EMBASSY EVENTS 2009
Former Secretary of Defense William Perry to Head U.S. Delegation at Commemoration Events in Gdańsk
28 August 2009
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Former Secretary of
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Former Secretary of Defense William Perry will head a delegation representing President Obama at the observance of the 70th Anniversary of the Outbreak of World War II in Gdańsk on September 1, 2009. William Perry served as the 19th United States Secretary of Defense from 1994-1997. As Secretary of Defense, he played a preeminent role in advancing the U.S. vision of a peaceful Europe, whole and free, including through leading efforts to advance Poland’s entry into NATO, an Alliance through which the United States and Poland continue to work closely together today.
Perry’s military career began in 1946 as an enlisted soldier; decades later, prior to his service as Secretary of Defense, he held the positions of Deputy Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In addition to his government service, Perry has extensive experience in business and academia. He holds degrees in mathematics from Stanford and Penn State Universities, is currently a Professor at Stanford University. Secretary Perry is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1997).
