Paul R. Houston

Last updated
Paul R. Houston
DAS-Houston-STW 2359-InterWeb.jpg
Photograph of Paul R. Houston, 2022
Senior bureau official, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Assumed office
January 20, 2025 [1]

Paul R. Houston (born 1979) is an American federal law enforcement officer who current serves as the acting head of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Contents

Early life and education

Paul Houston earned his BA in political science from the University of Iowa. He holds an master's degree in national security policy and international economics from the University of Kentucky's School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. [2]

Career

Paul Houston served in the United States Marines and as a legislative assistant to Rep. Jim Leach [3] [4] prior to joining the Department of State as a special agent and diplomat in the Diplomatic Security Service. During his career with the DSS, Houston has served as director of the DSS Office of Special Investigations and as deputy director of the Department of State's Command Center. [4] While a member of the burea's senior advisory team, he led and participated in numerous projects in the public and private sectors, involving conducting overseas criminal and administrative investigations, threat dissemination and crisis command and control. [5] [2]

See also

References

  1. "Paul R. Houston Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and the Acting Director of the Diplomatic Security Service Bureau of Diplomatic Security" . Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Paul R. Houston". United States Department of State. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  3. Staff, Iowa's News Now (2022-10-12). "Former aide to retired Iowa U.S. Rep. Jim Leach named as head of threat operations at U.S." KGAN. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Former aide to retired Iowa U.S. Rep. Jim Leach named as head of threat operations at U.S. Department of State". United States Department of State. 2023. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  5. "Threat Investigations and Analysis: A Conversation About Diplomatic Security Careers | Lecture Series | Iowa State University". www.lectures.iastate.edu. Retrieved February 27, 2025.