Wayne Perry has been a leader and pioneer in the wireless industry since the late 1970s and in the early days of cellular applications. Known for his leadership, humor and wisdom, Wayne brought together the splintered factions of the early industry to address issues of common concern and chart a course for cooperation in the highly competitive wireless market.  In a career covering more than three decades, he oversaw one of the largest mergers in wireless history, then went on to pioneer the deployment of digital wireless technologies in rural markets.

A lawyer by training, Wayne is a widely recognized business leader with strong diplomatic skills. He helped launch McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. in 1976 and served as General Counsel and Executive Vice President before becoming its President in 1985. While at McCaw Cellular, Wayne negotiated many of the deals that turned McCaw into the prime mover of the nascent mobile telecom industry. After McCaw’s merger with AT&T Wireless Services in 1994, Wayne was named Vice-Chairman of AT&T Wireless Services. He then joined NEXTLINK Communications as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman before co-founding Edge Wireless in 1999. Wayne realized the opportunities and benefits of deploying digital wireless technologies in rural markets and under his direction Edge Wireless funded, constructed, and operated wireless systems serving rural areas in northern California, southern Oregon, eastern Idaho, and Wyoming. Edge Wireless was acquired by AT&T Wireless in 2008.

In addition to his business leadership, Wayne was instrumental in building the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), the wireless industry’s trade group. He was a member of the board for many years and served as CTIA Chairman for the 1993 term.

As a father of four Eagle Scouts, Wayne became deeply involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He began as a Cubmaster and has served in many positions since. In May 2012, he was named National President of the Boy Scouts of America, the group’s top volunteer leader. He has served on its National Executive Board, as International Commissioner, and as a member of the World Scout Foundation Board. Wayne served as Chair of the Foundation from Nov 2015 until Nov 2017. Since 2022 he has been a Life Member of the Board for World Scouting.

Wayne received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, a JD from the Lewis & Clark Law School, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. He is an advisor to the Tax Program of the Lewis & Clark Law School, where he was honored as the law school’s first Distinguished Business Law Graduate. Wayne is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, and he and his wife Christine have provided philanthropic and advisory support to the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. He is a minority owner of the Seattle Mariners major league baseball team and serves on the Board of Directors of Baseball of Seattle, Inc. Wayne was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2012.