A distributed computing system conforms to a multi-level, hierarchical organizational model. One or more control nodes provide for the efficient and automated allocation and management of computing functions and resources within the distributed computing system in accordance with the organization model. The control node includes an automation subsystem having one or more rules engines that provide autonomic control of the application nodes in accordance with a set of one or more rules. A pluggable, application-specific application governor is selected and installed within the control node to provide an application-independent interface through which the rules engines interact to control the deployment, execution and monitoring of the applications within the distributed computing system. The application governor uses a set of application image objects to configure an application on an application node. Each of the application image objects share a common interface and are therefore interchangeable.