Vice Adm. Houston is a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was commissioned via the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program. He also holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary’s Mason School of Business.

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, California and was commodore of Submarine Squadron 20 in Kings Bay, Georgia.

His shore 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 flag assignments include deputy director for Strategic Targeting and Nuclear Mission Planning (J5N) United States Strategic Command, director of operations, Naval Forces Europe-Africa deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, and commander, Submarine Group 8, and director, Undersea Warfare Division, Office of Chief of Naval Operations (N97).

Houston assumed his current duties in September 2021 as commander, Submarine Forces, he is the undersea domain lead, and is responsible for the submarine force's strategic vision. As commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, he commands all Atlantic-based U.S. submarines, their crews and supporting shore activities. These responsibilities also include duties as commander, Task Force (CTF) 114, CTF 88, and CTF 46.  As commander, Allied Submarine Command, he is the principle undersea warfare advisor to all North Atlantic Treaty Organization strategic commanders.