James W. Houck is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. He served as the 41st Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy from 14 Aug. 2009[3] to 20 July 2012.[4] He is currently on the faculty at Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs.
James W. Houck | |
|---|---|
 Vice Admiral James W. Houck, USN (Ret.) 41st Judge Advocate General of the Navy | |
| Born | 18 April 1958 (age 66) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | c. 1980 – 2012[1] |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Judge Advocate General of the Navy Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)[2] |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy University of Michigan Georgetown University |
| Other work | Distinguished Scholar in Residence, Interim Dean, Penn State Law |
edit
Following graduation from the United States Naval Academy, Houck qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the destroyer USS Caron (DD 970). He then entered the Navy's Law Education Program and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. He later earned a Master of Laws (International and Comparative Law) from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Houck served from 2006–2009 as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command. As DJAG, Houck served as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA).
Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as special assistant for Legal and Legislative Matters to the secretary of the Navy and later as special counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations. He also served as the senior staff judge advocate for the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Atlantic Fleet as well as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain. In command, he served as commanding officer, Naval Legal Service Office, North Central.
Houck's other assignments include service in the Office of the Legal Counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, and in the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, both as executive assistant to the JAG and as special assistant for Transformation, the JAG Corps' lead strategic planner. He began his legal career first as a trial counsel (prosecutor) and then as a defense counsel at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
After retirement edit
After retirement from the Navy, Houck joined Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence. He became interim dean of both schools on 1 August 2013. He was succeeded as dean by Hari M. Osofsky on 1 July 2017. On July 13, 2021, he succeeded Hari M. Osofsky as Interim Dean of Penn State Law.
Awards edit
Houck's personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (five awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Personal life edit
Houck currently lives in State College, Pennsylvania with his family.
References edit
- ^ "James W. Houck". psu.edu. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
He joined Penn State in 2012 after a 32-year career in the United States Navy
- ^ "Leadership- U.S. Navy JAG Corps". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ "U.S. Navy Biographies- Vice Admiral James W. Houck". U.S. Navy. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ "New Leadership Takes Helm of Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps" Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine navy.mil (JAG Corps Public Affairs) 20 July 2012.
External links edit
Media related to James W. Houck at Wikimedia Commons