Mr. Houley was born in Rochester, New York, and attended Phillips Andover Academy prior to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated and was commissioned in June 1959.

Admiral Houley's naval career began on a destroyer, USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DD932), where he qualified as a deck officer before attending Naval Submarine School in 1960. Upon graduating, Admiral Houley reported to his first submarine, a WWII diesel electric boat, USS SEA OWL (SS405). There he qualified in submarines and held several division officer and department head assignments before attending Naval Guided Missiles School en route to a ballistic missile submarine under construction at Electric Boat, USS U.S. GRANT (SSBN63 I). Subsequently, then-Lieutenant Houley was selected by Admiral Rickover to complete training at the Navy's Nuclear Power School and land-based nuclear prototype before being assigned as a department head in USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON (SSBN617).

After another two and a half years at sea, Admiral Houley was ordered to the precommissioning unit of USS SUNFISH (SSN649), constructed at the Quincy, Massachusetts, Division of General Dynamics, followed by fleet operations in SUNFISH as Operations Officer and Navigator.

Admiral Houley graduated from the Joint Warfare Course at Armed Forces Staff College. His next sea assignment was as Executive Officer of USS WILL ROGERS (SSBN659). This was followed by a shore assignment at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington. Prior to reporting to his next ship, Admiral Houley was qualified as Engineer and for command of a nuclear powered ship by Admiral Rickover.

In July 1975, Admiral Houley was relieved as the second Commanding Officer of USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN680). During his command tour, Admiral Houley was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation. In August 1978 he reported to the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare) in Washington, DC. Following that, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Admiral Houley's major command assignment was as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Submarine School. at Groton, Connecticut. He was then selected as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Materiel, the four star who was then the Navy's Acquisition Executive.

Following two assignments on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Houley was selected for flag rank in January 1987 while serving as Director, Navy Training and Education. He was reassigned as Director, Navy Personnel Policy later that year, and then as Director of Strategic and Theater Nuclear Warfare on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.

In January 1989, Admiral Houley was relieved as Commander Submarine Group TWO, a fleet command assignment in which he was responsible for 39 nuclear submarine crews and coordination of naval activities in a six-state area. Shortly before being relieved of command in August 1991, Admiral Houley was selected to two star rank.

Admiral Houley was next assigned as Deputy Director, and a year later, as Director of Navy Science and Technology Requirements and Test and Evaluation for the Chief of Naval Operations. He completed the Harvard University Senior Management Course and was designated an Acquisition Professional (AP). On I November 1994, he retired from active duty.

Admiral Houley's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (eight awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards) and other service medals. The three unit commendations were all awarded in command assignments. Admiral Houley was a Joint Warfare Officer.

In February 1995, Mr. Houley joined Lockheed Martin Corporation (then Martin Marietta) at Ocean, Radar & Sensor Systems in Syracuse, New York. There, he was responsible for International ASW Programs. Two years later he transferred to Lockheed Martin Federal Systems in Manassas, Virginia, where he was responsible for International Submarine Programs.

In April 1998, Mr. Houley returned to the Defense Department and was appointed Director, Defense Reform Initiative by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen.