Carter, Perry Meet Before Carter Unveils New Cyber Strategy Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, the nation's 25th secretary of defense, shakes hands with former Defense Secretary William J. Perry before delivering a lecture at the Stanford University Cemex Auditorium in Stanford, Calif., April 23, 2015. Perry served as the country's 19th defense secretary from Feb. 3, 1994 to Jan. 23, 1997. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.07 MB) Photo By: VIRIN: 473777-D-IPV77-359.jpg Photo Gallery