William J. Perry

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William J. Perry, born October 11, 1927, in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, is an American mathematician, engineer, businessman, and public servant. He served as the United States Secretary of Defense from February 1994 to January 1997 under President Bill Clinton. Earlier, he was the Deputy Secretary of Defense (1993–1994) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (1977–1981).

Education and early career
Perry earned his B.S. and M.A. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Pennsylvania State University in 1957. He began his career in industry, directing the Electronic Defense Laboratories of Sylvania/GTE in California (1954–1964) and then founding and running Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory (ESL) from 1964 to 1977. He worked as a technical consultant to the Defense Department starting in 1967.

Government and defense leadership
As Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering under President Carter, Perry influenced weapon systems procurement and research and development, and he played a role in shaping the AirLand Battle doctrine and stealth aircraft technology. After returning to industry and other public service roles, he was named Secretary of Defense in 1994. He is known for a hands-on, “management by walking around” leadership style and for promoting close collaboration with military leaders and foreign defense ministers.

Preventive defense and modernization
Perry championed a shift from Cold War deterrence to preventive defense. He stressed three ideas: prevent threats from forming, deter threats that emerged, and if needed, defeat threats with military power. He pushed for a ready force capable of fighting two major regional wars, while downsizing and reforming the defense budget. He pushed for acquisition reform to save money, such as buying more from commercial sources and reducing the government’s red tape. He also supported base realignments and the 1995 BRAC program to close and realign bases to save money.

Foreign policy and international security
During his tenure, Perry stressed strong connections with NATO and promoted the Partnership for Peace to help Eastern European countries work with NATO without full membership. He supported arms reduction and nuclear reduction efforts and worked on relations with Russia, including START II. In Europe, he pushed for cooperation with Moscow on nuclear dangers and supported missile defense discussions in a cautious, budget-conscious way. He was active in Bosnia, supporting NATO air power and later a NATO-led peace mission, and he helped manage U.S. involvement in Haiti, where U.S. forces helped restore Aristide to power. Perry also dealt with Korea, supporting the Agreed Framework with North Korea in 1994 to replace plutonium-producing reactors with light-water reactors.

Other crises
Perry’s term saw tensions in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Iran, as well as challenges in Iran’s and Iraq’s behavior and regional stability. He emphasized the importance of a strong regional defense posture in the Gulf and worked to prevent further military clashes. He also led efforts to improve U.S.-Japan and U.S.-China defense relations and to respond to regional security challenges with a mix of diplomacy and military readiness.

Legacy and later work
Perry left the Pentagon in early 1997, citing frustration with partisan politics and the strain of ongoing military missions. He later returned to Stanford University, where he remained active as a professor and as a co-director of the Preventive Defense Project. He has served on boards and in leadership roles for several organizations focused on national security and nuclear threat reduction, including the Nuclear Threat Initiative. He founded the William J. Perry Project in 2013 to educate the public about nuclear dangers and to promote action to reduce those risks. He is the author of the memoir My Journey at the Nuclear Brink and co-author of The Button: The New Nuclear Arms Race and Presidential Power from Truman to Trump.

Awards and recognition
Perry has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1997) and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan (2002). He remains a prominent voice on U.S. national security, arms control, and the reduction of nuclear risks.