James W. Houck
James W. Houck | |
|---|---|
 Vice Admiral James Houck, USN 40th Judge Advocate General of the Navy | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands | Judge Advocate General of the Navy Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)[1] |
Vice Admiral James W. Houck is the 41st and current Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy. He was installed in his present position on Aug. 14, 2009.[2]
Naval Career
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 JAG of the Navy and commander, Naval Legal Service Command. As deputy JAG, 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.
Awards
Houck’s personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, 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.
References
- ^ "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.