Career
He was the head of the Industry Office and director of the industrial civil defense program for the Federal Civil Defense Administration (1951–1958) and its two successor agencies, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization (1958–1961) and the Office of Civil Defense, United States. Department of Defense (1961–1972). By the time he retired Couch had earned the title of “Mr. Civil Defense” or “Mr.
Industry Defense.”
Other positions he held while working for the Federal Civil Defense Administration included deputy assistant administrator in charge of management, executive director for the National Civil Defense Training and Education Program, director of Atomic Test Field Exercises, director of the Warden Service, and United States. representative on civil defense to North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In October 1961 Virgil Couch was featured on the cover of Time magazine along with an article on the United States. civil defense program