NR 12.197 - September 28, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, was awarded the Dr. William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education, by the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) in recognition of his significant contributions to the fields of security and defence. Minister MacKay has previously accepted the Foreign Policy Association’s Statesman Award and the Grand Officier de l’Ordre de la Couronne from the Belgian Government.
“The Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) is pleased to award the William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education to the Honourable Peter MacKay,” said Dr. Downie, the director of CHDS. “The award recognizes Minister MacKay’s steadfast commitment to multinational security and defense cooperation in the Western Hemisphere and to his significant contributions to the fields of defense and security education that reflect the Center’s core mission.”
The CHDS noted Minister MacKay’s support of the Conference of the Defence Ministers of the Americas and the Inter-American Defense Board as being instrumental in the improvement of hemispheric response to large-scale disasters, as well as in the coordination of efforts to address emerging threats and challenges to the region.
The honour was presented to Minister MacKay by Dr. Richard Downie and Dr. Paul Stockton, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and America’s Security Affairs. The Award acknowledges Minister MacKay’s work in cultivating a cooperative environment in which Canada and its regional neighbors work together to advance mutual security interests.
“I am humbled to accept this award on behalf of the men and women in uniform who, during my time in office, have served our nation whenever they are called upon; be it Afghanistan, Libya, Haiti, the high seas or protecting Canadians on our home soil,” said Minister MacKay. “Dr. Perry’s contribution to establishing a new approach to collaboration and partnership, through the establishment of the Conference of the Defence Ministers of the Americas and the Williamsburg principles, provide a foundation for a deepening partnership among the democratic nations of the hemisphere, ultimately creating a more stable and secure world.”
Previous winners of the Dr. William J. Perry Award in the individual category have included Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, Uruguayan Defense Minister Dr. José Bayardi, U.S. General John Galvin, and Minister of Defense of Brazil, Nelson Jobim.
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A photo of the Dr. William J. Perry Award is available here: http://www.ndu.edu/chds/news.cfm?action=view&id=39&lang=ivamxjiri
A photo of Minister MacKay accepting the Dr. William J. Perry Award is available on Minister MacKay’s website: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/minister-ministre/index-eng.asp
