Gen. Pace to join Finmeccanica

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Italian defense company Finmeccanica announced former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace will advise the company on defense contracts.

Pier Guarguaglini, Finmeccanica chairman and chief executive officer, announced Monday that retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace has been added to the company's Senior Defense Advisory Committee.

Pace has worked in the private sector since his retirement from the Marine Corps in October 2007. He served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the run-up to the U.S.-led war in Iraq and later as chairman when Iraq was at the height of the insurgency.

"Gen. Pace brings with him 40-plus years of service that culminated in serving as the highest-ranking military officer in the United States," Guarguaglini said in a statement.

"His extensive experience with global defense and national security issues will prove invaluable to Finmeccanica as we address the needs of our customers. We are truly fortunate to have the counsel of such a well-respected expert."