James W. Houck

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, where he served as interim dean from August 2013 through June 2017.

James W. Houck
Vice Admiral James W. Houck, USN (Ret.)
41st Judge Advocate General of the Navy
Born18 April 1958 (1958-04-18) (age 62)
Pittsburgh, PA
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of servicec.1980–2012[1]
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldJudge Advocate General of the Navy
Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)[2]
Other workDistinguished Scholar in Residence, Interim Dean, Penn State Law

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

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.

Awards

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

Houck currently lives in State College, PA with his family.

References
  1. "James W. Houck". psu.edu. Retrieved 17 July 2019. He joined Penn State in 2012 after a 32-year career in the United States Navy
  2. "Leadership- U.S. Navy JAG Corps". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  3. "U.S. Navy Biographies- Vice Admiral James W. Houck". U.S. Navy. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  4. "New Leadership Takes Helm of Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps" navy.mil (JAG Corps Public Affairs) 20 July 2012.

Media related to James W. Houck at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by
Bruce E. MacDonald		 41st Judge Advocate General of the Navy
2009 – 2012		 Succeeded by
Nanette M. DeRenzi
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