Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 25, 1994 TAG: 9401250193
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Newsday
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
If confirmed by the Senate, Perry, 66, would move from the No. 2 Pentagon slot to replace Defense Secretary Les Aspin. Clinton turned to Perry after retired Navy Adm. Bobby Inman withdrew from consideration last week.
Clinton, lauding Perry as "a real pro" with the skills, management experience and vision for the post, minimized the difficulties of the highly public search process. He told reporters earlier Monday that Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., was sounded out before Perry accepted the nomination, but that the job was "absolutely, categorically not offered to anyone else."
The nomination won praise from members of Congress, who expressed confidence in Perry's ability to win Senate approval.
A leading advocate of Pentagon reforms, Perry is known as a technological expert who can juggle the often conflicting goals of protecting the nation's defense while cutting spending.
"He's an excellent choice," said Sen. John Warner, R-Va., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Warner said he expects Perry to win Senate approval in less than two weeks.
Perry's nomination to the top Pentagon job caps a career that has included stints in government, industry and academia. But Perry is probably best know promoting stealth technology, a development that led to a new generation of aircraft designed to elude detection by enemy forces.
By championing stealth as a Pentagon official during the Carter administration in the late 1970s, Perry helped clear the way for the B-2 bomber, the F-117 fighter and the new F-22 fighter, which is under development by Lockheed.
"He really was the godfather of stealth," said Bill Sweetman, an aviation writer who specializes in new technologies. "Perry saw the potential. He accelerated the program, made sure that they got the money and the facilities that they needed."
In his most recent Pentagon job, Perry has focused on reforming military weapon purchases by eliminating red tape and making the most of existing technology.
Perry, who was offered the job Friday, said he spent the weekend discussing the promotion with his family before delivering his response to the White House on Sunday. Although the delay encouraged speculation that he was reluctant to accept, Perry assured Clinton that he will not back out, as Inman did.
"I understand very well the demands of this job and the strains that it puts on one's family," Perry said. "I did not have to be persuaded to take this job."
Perry started at the Pentagon in 1977 as undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. Before that, he co-founded ESL Inc., which specializes in top-secret defense electronics.
He left the Pentagon to serve as managing director of Hambrecht & Quist, a San Francisco investment firm, and as a defense industry consultant.
"He's well-liked by the defense industry," said Steven Kosiak of the Defense Budget Project, which monitors defense spending.
by CNB