Allen F. Woodhouse became the Acting Director and Acting Deputy Manager of the National Communications System on July 30, 2011.  In his role, Mr. Woodhouse plays a critical role in developing and implementing policies and procedures designed to secure and enhance the resiliency and restoration of the Nation’s critical communication infrastructures, networks, and systems against all hazards and threats.

Mr. Woodhouse has been with the National Communications System since October, 1, 2007 and served as its Chief of Staff.  Prior to joining the NCS in 2007, Mr. Woodhouse worked for the Department of the Army as a Senior Systems Analyst in the office of the Chief Information Officer/G6, where he was responsible for Information Portfolio Management for the Enterprise Information Environment Mission Area (EIEMA).  In that position he was responsible for identifying redundant and stove-piped Information Systems, and making recommendations for their elimination where appropriate.  Additionally, he provided guidance, oversight, and direction to four EIEMA Domain Managers to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of their efforts to register all IT investments in the Army Portfolio Management Solution system, and determine redundant capabilities.

From September 1979 until December 2006, Mr. Woodhouse served as a career military officer in the Army’s Signal Corps, retiring as a Colonel in December 2006.  During that time he served in a variety of communications command and staff positions in the U.S., Germany and the Middle East.  As a commander he provided tactical and strategic communications for combat operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and the Gulf War.  His last command was of the Brigade that is responsible for training all Army Signal Corps enlisted personnel including public affairs, journalists and combat camera specialists.

He also gained national security and emergency preparedness experience while serving in the Army.   He served as the Deputy Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) for Pennsylvania from 1992 to 1994.  While there he wrote the DCO plan to support Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), and coordinated military and PEMA training exercises.  In 1994, Mr. Woodhouse was assigned to the NCS as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program Manager where he was responsible for the supervision, training, activation and deployment of 49 Army reserve officers who were geographically dispersed throughout the United States.  From June 1996 until June 1997 he served as the Executive Officer of the NCS, responsible for implementing policy guidance of the Deputy Manager, NCS in direct support of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Nation.

Mr. Woodhouse holds a B.A. degree in History from Norfolk State University; a Masters degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, and a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.