Law professor and retired Vice Admiral James Houck has been named interim dean of Penn State Law at University Park, as well as its School of International Affairs, beginning Aug. 1, the university announced.

Additionally, Houck will be the first director of the university’s Center for Security Research and Education. Houck is taking over following the departure of the current law school Dean Hari Osofsky, who is leaving Penn State to become dean of Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law.