Former US Secretary of Defence Dr. William J. Perry delivered a lecture on the impact of technology and globalization on world security during his visit to The Chinese University in mid-January.
Dr. William Perry's lecture on 'Technology and Globalization' attracted over a hundred listeners, including consuls-general, members of the public, and staff and students of the University. The event was held at Cho Yiu Hall.
In his lecture, Dr. Perry pointed out that new technology and rapid information flow in a globalized world have a huge impact on international security and the spread of terrorism is a case in point. He also explained the methods used by the US government to handle certain national defence crises in the past, and stressed the importance of controlling nuclear weapons.
Dr. William Perry served as the nineteenth Secretary of Defence of the US from 1994 to 1997. He is currently Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor at the School of Engineering and the Institute for International Studies of Stanford University. He is also a Senior Fellow of Stanford's Hoover Institution.
Dr. Perry received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, all in mathematics. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1946 and 1947, Dr. Perry served in the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Army during the occupation of Japan. He joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1948 and was a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves from 1950 to 1955. Dr. Perry also has extensive business experience.
Dr. Perry has received numerous awards from the US government for his contributions. These include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Department of Defence Distinguished Service Medal, and Outstanding Civilian Service Medals from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Defence Intelligence Agency, NASA, and the Coast Guard.