Rear Adm. Houston is a native of Buffalo, New York and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned via the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program.  He holds a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary.

His sea tours include, division officer assignments on USS Phoenix (SSN 702), engineer officer onboard USS Hampton (SSN 767), and executive officer onboard USS Tennessee (SSBN 734)(B). He commanded USS Hampton (SSN 767) in San Diego and was commodore of Submarine Squadron 20 in Kings Bay, Georgia.

His staff assignments include flag lieutenant for Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; the Atlantic Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board; special assistant to the Director of Naval Reactors for Personnel and Policy; deputy commander for Submarine Squadron 20; the principal director for Nuclear Matters within the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the submarine and nuclear community manager, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (N133) and division director of Submarine and Nuclear Propulsion Distribution, Navy Personnel Command (PERS-42).

His first flag assignment was deputy director for Strategic Targeting and Nuclear Mission Planning (J5N) United States Strategic Command.  Following this he served as director of Operations, Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Deputy Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, and commander, Submarine Group Eight.

Houston is currently serving as director, Undersea Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N97).