On June 16, 2025, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies formally conferred the Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education upon Ecuador’s University of the Armed Forces – ESPE, in recognition of its sustained contributions to the advancement of professional military education and regional security cooperation in the Americas.

The Perry Award

The award ceremony took place on ESPE’s campus in Sangolqui, Ecuador, and coincided with the institution’s 102nd anniversary. Perry Center Director Dr. Paul J. Angelo delivered keynote remarks highlighting ESPE’s pivotal role in shaping security and defense discourse through academic excellence and institutional leadership.

Named in honor of former US Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, the award recognizes individuals and institutions whose educational, scholarly, and outreach efforts have substantially contributed to the professional development of security and define leaders across the Western Hemisphere. The award reflects Secretary Perry’s enduring vision and aligns with the Center’s mission to promote sustainable institutional capacity, democratic values, and cooperative security frameworks throughout the region.