Perry, William James (1927– )

US Democrat politician, defence secretary 1994–96. As a mathematician and head of research at the Defense Department 1977–81, he was involved in the early development of stealth technology.

Before moving to the Defense Department in 1967 as a technical consultant, Perry was director of electronic military laboratories in Mountain View, California, 1954–64. He was professor and co-director of the Center for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University, California, 1989–93. He retired as defence secretary in 1996 after President Clinton was re-elected for a second term and was replaced by William Cohen.