He served as the 41st Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy from 14 Aug. 2009[3] to 20 July 2012.

Following graduation from the United States Naval Academy, Houck qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the destroyer USS Caron (DD 970).

As DJAG, Houck served as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA).

He began his legal career first as a trial counsel (prosecutor) and then as a defense counsel at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. After retirement from the Navy, Houck joined Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence.

On July 13, 2021, he succeeded Hari M. Osofsky as Interim Dean of Penn State Law.