On 24 May 2007, the Air War College (AWC) recognized Lieutenant Colonel John D. Perez as its top Distance Learning Program graduate for calendar year 2006 at its resident school graduation ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base. Colonel Perez is the Air Force Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida. USSOUTHCOM is responsible for all U.S. military activities, including Theater Security Cooperation, on the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico; the waters adjacent to Central and South America; the Caribbean Sea, with its 13 island nations, European and U.S. territories; the Gulf of Mexico; and a portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

Colonel Perez was one of 2,878 students who completed the AWC Distance Learning Program in CY 2006. AWC reviewed the academic records of its Distance Learning Program graduates, and only 187 (6.5 percent of the total) had an overall grade of “Outstanding.” Of this distinguished group, only 13 scored “Outstanding” on every exam and paper. Colonel Perez had the top overall grade average of these exceptional students.

Once AWC determined the best overall record, the Dean of the Distance Learning Program notified Colonel Perez of his distinction and invited him to the AWC to participate in the graduation activities.

Colonel Perez was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. He has served in a variety of operations positions at squadron, group, wing and headquarters levels. He has also served at the Air Staff level at the Air Force Studies and Analyses Agency, where he helped shape the Air Force' space and C4ISR strategies, and at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency as a U.S. arms control official specializing in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons matters. In programs and acquisitions, Colonel Perez served as Air Force Space Command's lead for the Global Broadcast Service and Advanced Narrowband space systems. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Perez led USSOUTHCOM's International Integration Division. In this role, he was responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing plans and policies pertinent to international relations throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. Colonel Perez is a command space operator with extensive experience in both intercontinental ballistic missile and satellite systems.

At the AWC Awards ceremony held the morning of 24 May, AWC Commandant, Major General Stephen J. Miller, presented Colonel Perez with a small model of the “Wright Flyer” to formally recognize his achievement. The award resembles the monument on Chennault Circle at Maxwell Air Force Base that commemorates the Wright Brothers' Aviation Training School, established in Montgomery in 1910. The Commandant also presented a diploma to Colonel Perez at the AWC graduation ceremony conducted the afternoon of 24 May.

After his special recognition, Colonel Perez said, "I was very surprised and honored to receive this award. It was a privilege to walk the stage on graduation day on behalf of AWC distance learning students worldwide. Looking back on all the work it took to complete the program, I especially respect and admire the deployed students who make amazing sacrifices to complete this challenging course while performing their wartime missions. I also have to thank the AWC staff: they've been phenomenal throughout my time in the course and during my stay at Maxwell."