“just how much the world has changed, just how much our security has changed, just how much the Department of Defense has changed, and just how much my job has changed.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote

Figure timeline
William James Perry is an American mathematician, engineer, businessman, and civil servant who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton. He also served as Deputy Secretary of Defense (1993–1994) and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (1977–1981).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
business · American mathematician, businessman and 19th US Secretary of Defense · businessperson · politician · merchant · university teacher · mathematician · management engineer · academic · scientist · also William Perry, William J. Perry, William James Perry, Perry
Born 11 October 1927 · Q539791
43 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
6 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
“just how much the world has changed, just how much our security has changed, just how much the Department of Defense has changed, and just how much my job has changed.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Guardian: Rebecca Perry wins Waterstones debut fiction prize for ‘delicious and dream-like’ novel
Psychology Today: William Perry
The New York Times published a Perry opinion editorial advocating, "
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded California Hall of Fame (2016).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry published a memoir, My Journey at the Nuclear Brink, (Stanford Univ
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) was officially renamed the William J
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry founded the William J
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry joined a team of former government officials from various countries, formed under the auspices of the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture Hidehiko Yuzaki to prepare a plan for the total abolition of nuclear weapons
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The four produced the documentary Nuclear Tipping Point
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded Rumford Prize (2008).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Secretary Perry joined three other eminent statesmen, former Secretaries of State George P
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry gave the featured commencement speech to engineering and science graduates at the University of California, Santa Barbara
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Japan (2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry was awarded the James A
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: United Kingdom (1998).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Croatia (1998).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where he recommended continued diplomatic engagement with Kim Jong Il's government
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Bill Clinton (1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: United States (1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And 1998 and completely withdrawn by June 1998
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Revealed the continuing tension in the Middle East and the dangers involved in the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Poland (1996).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The United States agreed to vacate 20% of the land it used on Okinawa and to close some military facilities, including Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Only after Congress agreed to delete funding for a national missile defense system
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And attending the second conference in 1996 in Argentina
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
When Perry promoted regional defense cooperation and the training of civilians in security matters
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The United States and North Korea signed the Agreed Framework after lengthy negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, assisted again by former President Carter
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Just after former President Jimmy Carter negotiated an agreement, the United States sent in military forces with UN approval
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The United States became involved in humanitarian efforts in Rwanda
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: United States Secretary of Defense (1994–1997).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska were besieging Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, but the Serbs were forced to draw back in face of a UN ultimatum and warning of airstrikes
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
When Northrop Corporation purchased Grumman Corporation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The "frenzy" of defense industry mergers that the US experienced after 1986 was encouraged when in autumn 1993, Perry and his boss Les Aspin invited two dozen industry executives to a dinner "in the secretary's dining ro
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: United States Deputy Secretary of Defense (1993–1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
To serve on the President's Commission on Strategic Forces
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perry became managing director until 1985 of Hambrecht & Quist, a San Francisco investment banking firm "specializing in high-tech and defense companies
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
To 1981, a year as Deputy Secretary from 1993 to 1994, and three years as Secretary
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
For contributions to communications theory, radio propagation theory, and computer technology in the design of advanced systems
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Was hired as a technical consultant to the Department of Defense
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And served in the United States Army as an enlisted man from 1946 to 1947, including service in the Occupation of Japan
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1927-10-11.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Connections