LtCol Houghton graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2001. He graduated from the Basic School in Jun 2002 and completed the MAGTF Counterintelligence Basic Agent Course in December 2002.
In January 2003, Second Lieutenant Houghton reported to 1st CI/HUMINT Company, 1st Intelligence Battalion as a platoon commander. He was immediately deployed to Kuwait in anticipation of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He led HUMINT Exploitation Team (HET) 6 in the Northern Babil Province until September 2003. During this deployment, he was promoted to First Lieutenant.
Upon returning to 1st CI/HUMINT Company, First Lieutenant Houghton served as a platoon commander. He was selected as the Intelligence Battalion Detachment OIC and HET Commander for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and chopped to the MEU in January 2004. He completed the MEU work up and deployed with the MEU in December 2004.
During the MEU, First Lieutenant Houghton’ HET supported the relief effort of Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE following the Asian Tsunami, and then moved into Iraq to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where he was again stationed in the Northern Babil Province. Following the 15th MEU deployment, First Lieutenant Houghton left active duty to attend graduate school at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
In October 2015, Captain Houghton returned to the USMC Reserves after ten-year absence from military service where he served as Detachment 1 OIC, Alpha Company, 1st Intelligence Support Battalion until April 2018. During this time, he was promoted to Major. Major Houghton began the Command and Staff College Funded Weekend Course in September. Major Houghton then rejoined Alpha Company as the Company Commander from 2019 to 2022. He most recently served in FHG as the AC/S G-2 from 2022 to 2025.
LtCol Houghton’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (third award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (third award), and Combat Action Ribbon.