Originally from England, Howe and his wife, Marion, are career officers who have worked throughout the United Kingdom and led training projects in Europe, India and the United States. The Howes emphasize biblical teaching, and have a personal mission statement that commits them to develop spiritual leaders for an Army with a spiritual mission.Originally from England, Howe and his wife, Marion, are career officers who have worked throughout the United Kingdom and led training projects in Europe, India and the United States. The Howes emphasize biblical teaching, and have a personal mission statement that commits them to develop spiritual leaders for an Army with a spiritual mission

Howe led the Australian territory through a "Future Search" revisioning process. When the Australian magazine Pulse asked him to identify critical issues facing the Army, Howe cited, among other things, the need for effective soldiers (commitment), effective leadership and gender parity ("We have not fulfilled our potential as an organization that gives equal place to women")..

Howe puts scriptural authority at the top of the list of non-negotiables for the Salvation Army movement. And he likes the idea of uniforms. "God has called us to be a visible spiritual force," he says.