Defense Secretary Cohen Appoints Edith Perez to Key Advisory Committee on Women in the Military Services.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 1999--

Edith R. Perez, Los Angeles Police Commission president and Latham & Watkins law firm partner, has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

Perez joins 11 other appointees selected this year from throughout the United States to serve on the distinguished policy and watchdog body composed of 34 civilian members. Members are appointed to three-year terms.

The Committee, established by Congressional law in 1951, provides the Secretary of Defense with recommendations relevant to the optimum utilization of women in America's armed forces and quality of life issues impacting the mission readiness of our military women. Members are selected on the basis of their strong records in civic leadership and their outstanding reputation in business, education and public service.

As a member of the Committee, Perez will be responsible for informing, advising and making recommendations that will ultimately lead to the adoption and enforcement of laws, regulations and policies regarding gender discrimination, sexual harassment and domestic violence in the U.S. Armed Forces, among other policies.

"I am honored to have been chosen by the Secretary for this important position and will work vigorously for the many officer and enlisted women in the Armed Forces," said Perez. "Both as a woman and an American citizen, I am excited about being able to ensure that essential steps are taken to guarantee a safe, healthy and responsive environment for servicewomen who live and work in the military."

Perez travels to Washington, D.C. this week for Committee meetings at the Pentagon and Quantico Marine Base.

Perez is in her second year serving as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission and is a partner in the law firm of Latham & Watkins where she has worked for 15 years. In addition to being one of California's leading Latinas, Perez's leadership has marked a significant turnaround in the reputation and culture of the Los Angeles Police Department.

As president of the Police Commission, Perez has been instrumental in ensuring that the Los Angeles Police Department has: -0-

--   adhered to a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, revamping
     the LAPD's entire complaint system and improving quality control
     and risk management of the LAPD;
--   increased diversity in the selection of Academy recruits,
     promotional opportunities and assignment to coveted positions
     within the LAPD; and
--   adopted new language policy guidelines resulting in a steadily
     growing multilingual police force.

"Guiding the Los Angeles Police Commission through some challenging times has enabled me to give something back to the community in the form of a responsive and responsible community police force," said Perez.

"I am looking forward to making the same commitment in working with my fellow DACOWITS members to do what is needed to ensure that women in the military are given an equal opportunity to contribute their talents and skills in serving our country."

Perez was named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine and "One of Two Top Achievers" in Who's Who Among Women Lawyers in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

In 1998, she received the Women of Achievement (Deborah) Award from the Anti-Defamation League and the Legal Services Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She was the recipient of the 1997 Redesigning Policing Award from the national Center for Women and Policing, and a 1996 recipient of Bringing Up Daughters Differently Award (BUDDY) from the New York-based NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund.