James W. Houck

Vice Admiral (Ret.) James W. Houck is a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Penn State Law and the School of International Affairs, Pennsylvania State University. He retired from a 32-year U.S. Navy career in 2012, during which he served as the 41st Judge Advocate General of the Navy, providing legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and overseeing the Navy’s legal corps. At Penn State, he has served multiple terms as interim dean of Penn State Law (University Park campus) and the School of International Affairs, leading institutional reforms and collaboration across disciplines.

• Joined Penn State in 2012
• Recipient of the 2020 Penn State Law Teaching Award
• Founded Penn State’s Center for Security Research and Education

His research focuses on national security law, international law, and military legal issues. He teaches the Leadership in Crisis Simulation course and has published works on the Law of the Sea, Arctic policy, and military diplomacy.

He holds leadership roles in organizations such as the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Security Advisory Council of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.