Retired U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin has been elected to the Board of Directors for United Technologies Corporation, the company announced Wednesday.

Austin will join the board on Sept. 1, the company said in a statement.

United Technologies provides high-tech systems and services to the aerospace and building industries. The board includes 13 other board members, 12 of whom are independent.

Austin, 62, retired in May after 41 years of service that included a variety of command and staff positions, including U.S. Forces Iraq commander from September 2010 to the final departure of troops in December 2011.

He went on to serve as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.

Austin's most recent assignment was as U.S. Central Command head, overseeing a 20-country region that includes Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1975, and earned a master's degree in education from Auburn University and a master's in business management from Webster University.

His decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and five Defense Distinguished Service Medals.