Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania has named Robert M. Scher, the former United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, as a distinguished visitor for the 2017 spring and fall semesters.  Scher left his position as Assistant Secretary of Defense in January 2017.

“Our core commitment to bridge academic research and policy making for greater policy impact will benefit enormously from Scher’s time with us,” said William Burke-White, the Richard Perry Professor of Law and inaugural director of Perry World House. “We look forward to a productive partnership during and beyond his time at Penn.”  

Scher is a distinguished visitor within Perry World House’s research theme, Future of the Global Order: Power, Technology, and Governance. While at Penn, he will participate in public events, lectures, the World House Student Fellows program, and contribute to the intellectual life of Perry World House.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Scher to Perry World House given his proven leadership and expertise on defense and national security topics, and his regional expertise on South and East Asia,” said Michael C. Horowitz, associate professor of political science and associate director of Perry World House. As the assistant secretary, Scher advised the secretary of defense and the under secretary of defense for policy in areas including national security and defense strategy; the forces and contingency plans necessary to implement defense strategy; nuclear deterrence and missile defense policy; and security cooperation plans and policies. Before serving as the assistant secretary, Scher was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans within the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Forces. Mr. Scher proffers regional expertise in South and East Asian policy as well, including serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs. He has also held numerous other posts covering Asian security and defense policy issues in the Departments of Defense and State. Scher holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College and an M.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Perry World House is Penn’s new hub for global engagement and international policy research. Bringing together students and faculty from across Penn’s schools and disciplines with practitioners and policymakers from around the world, it convenes conversations around the most pressing global challenges, catalyzes interdisciplinary academic research with policy relevant potential, and connects Penn to the world and the world to Penn.

More information about the Perry World House Visiting Fellows and Scholars may be found here.