William J. Perry
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| William J. Perry | |
|---|---|
 Department of Defense · Public domain · source | |
| Name | William J. Perry |
| Caption | 19th United States Secretary of Defense |
| Office | United States Secretary of Defense |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Term start | February 3, 1994 |
| Term end | January 23, 1997 |
| Predecessor | Les Aspin |
| Successor | William Cohen |
| Office1 | 19th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense |
| President1 | Bill Clinton |
| Term start1 | March 5, 1993 |
| Term end1 | February 3, 1994 |
| Predecessor1 | Donald J. Atwood Jr. |
| Successor1 | John M. Deutch |
| Office2 | Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering |
| President2 | Jimmy Carter |
| Term start2 | 1977 |
| Term end2 | 1981 |
| Predecessor2 | Malcolm R. Currie |
| Successor2 | Richard D. DeLauer |
| Birth date | 11 October 1927 |
| Birth place | Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Leonilla Green, 1954, 2015, Lee H. Perry, 2016 |
| Education | Stanford University (BS, MS), Pennsylvania State University (PhD) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1946–1947 |
| Rank | Private first class |
William J. Perry is an American mathematician, engineer, and public servant who served as the 19th United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton. A key figure in Cold War-era defense technology and post-Cold War nuclear policy, his career spans academia, private industry, and high-level government positions. He is widely recognized for his expertise in arms control and his later advocacy for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Early life and education
Born in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, he was raised during the Great Depression and developed an early interest in mathematics. After serving in the United States Army of occupation in Japan following World War II, he utilized the G.I. Bill to pursue higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in mathematics from Stanford University, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics from Pennsylvania State University.
Military and early career
His initial professional work was at the Stanford Research Institute, where he engaged in classified electronics research. In 1954, he co-founded Electromagnetic Systems Laboratories (ESL), a firm specializing in advanced reconnaissance and signals intelligence systems. His expertise in electronic and surveillance technologies led to his recruitment by the United States Department of Defense during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he analyzed U-2 reconnaissance imagery.
Government service
Appointed as the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, he managed the development of several transformative "stealth" and precision-guided weapons programs, including the F-117 Nighthawk and GPS-aided munitions. He served as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1993 to 1994 before becoming United States Secretary of Defense from 1994 to 1997. During his tenure, he oversaw military operations in Bosnia, Haiti, and the Persian Gulf, while championing initiatives like the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program to secure former Soviet nuclear materials.
Post-government career and advocacy
After leaving the Pentagon, he returned to academia as a professor at Stanford University and authored the memoir My Journey at the Nuclear Brink. He founded the William J. Perry Project, an educational initiative focused on nuclear dangers. A vocal advocate for disarmament, he has served on advisory boards for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. He has consistently warned of the rising risks of nuclear conflict and the dangers of cyberwarfare targeting critical infrastructure.
Awards and honors
His distinguished service has been recognized with the nation's highest civilian awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received honorary degrees from institutions like the University of Notre Dame and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers by the Government of Japan.
Personal life
He was married to his first wife, Leonilla Green, from 1954 until her death in 2015; they had five children. He married his second wife, Lee H. Perry, in 2016. An avid student of history, he often draws parallels between contemporary geopolitical challenges and past events like the lead-up to World War I. He resides in California and remains an active public speaker and writer on national security issues.
Category:1927 births Category:United States Secretaries of Defense Category:American nuclear weapons policy makers Category:Living people