Training Advisory Board - Max Houser

Max Houser began his Law Enforcement and Intelligence career in 1975 when he became a Deputy Sheriff for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Dept.

After working Metro Patrol and S.W.A.T he returned home to Monterey County in 1979 and began an eight year employment with the Salinas Police Dept. While at Salinas P.D. Max worked Patrol as a beat officer, Field Training Officer and Patrol Sergeant. Additionally Max was a SWAT team member and Team Leader. Specialty assignments included three years as a Detective in the Narcotics Unit, Sergeant of the Burglary Suppression Team, Defensive Tactics Instructor and Rangemaster. Max was involved in several critical incidents while at Salinas PD.

In 1987 Max became a Special Agent with the California Dept. of Justice. Assigned to the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, San Jose regional office Max worked in the Special Operations Unit, the Clandestine Lab Team and assigned as an acting Special Agent Supervisor to regional Task Forces until he was promoted to Special Agent Supervisor in 1990. Max was always heavily involved in OMG investigations and twice raided the Hells Angels Mother Chapter in Oakland. Max was assigned as the Commander of the Allied Agencies Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Southern Alameda Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Narcotics Enforcement Team.

While at BNE Max was a frequent instructor at the Dept. of Justice Advanced Training Center on a variety of disciplines. He helped develop the Rangemaster and Sniper program and was a graduate of Gunsite Academy, the FBI’s Sniper Program and the 1st Marine Division Scout/Sniper School. Max also taught Weaponless Defense, Undercover Techniques, Surveillance and Management of Special Units.

In 2000 Max was medically retired from DOJ and immediately retained as a contractor at the Advanced Training Center.

In 2002 Max began a career in intelligence and currently is a Sr. Field Intelligence Officer for the National Drug Intelligence Center and conducts taskings in the drug, gang and terrorism fields.

Max has received numerous awards throughout his career including Region One’s Narcotic Officer of the Year and is a lifetime member of CNOA. In 2006 Max was awarded the British Empire’s prestigious Order of Saint Michael, Dagger Sub Rosa, for accomplishments in the intelligence field. In 2008 he was awarded the Department of Justice Purple Heart which he claims took absolutely no skill on his part.

Off duty Max belongs to several professional associations and is a Master Diver and Scuba Instructor teaching 16 specialties including rebreather use and technical diving.

He is extremely proud and honored to have been included as part of the Central California Gang Investigators Association.