HARTFORD, Conn., August 16, 2007 –- David E. Parekh today was named Vice President, Research, and Director, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), for United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), effective Sept. 10. He will report to J. Michael McQuade, Senior Vice President, Science and Technology.

Parekh, 46, comes to UTC from the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he has been Deputy Director since 2003. While there, Parekh had primary responsibility for research operations, business development, commercialization, and the institute's internal research portfolio. He served concurrently as Associate Vice Provost for Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology and as President of Georgia Tech Ireland, the university's nonprofit corporation, which he founded in 2006 to conduct basic and applied research programs with multinational corporations and universities in Europe.

As UTRC Director, Parekh will advance the corporation's commitment to growth through technology and innovation.

"David is an outstanding scientist whose expertise in identifying and directing research and innovation is well-suited for his role at UTRC," McQuade said. "We look forward to the leadership David will provide in enabling the growth of UTC's current and future businesses."

Earlier in his career, Parekh held several important program leadership and principal investigator roles at Boeing Phantom Works and in the McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories.

Parekh holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and master's degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering from Stanford University, as well as a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Parekh succeeds Jean Colpin, who retired earlier this year.

Founded in 1929, United Technologies Research Center provides advanced technologies, innovative thinking and disciplined research for industry leading customers in aerospace propulsion, building infrastructure and services, heating and air conditioning, fire and security systems and power generation. The center's customers include all UTC business units, as well as government agencies and independent organizations. Among its key research goals are sustainable technologies that positively impact the marketplace while conserving resources. UTRC is based in East Hartford, Conn., and operates an office in Shanghai, China.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide.