Invacare, a manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment, has appointed Ellen O'Kane Tauscher to its board of directors.

Tauscher will serve as an independent director, effective Feb. 9. She brings experience in the financial industry, and international and governmental affairs to the board.

Previously, Tauscher served as the United States under secretary of state for arms control and international security, a position nominated by President Obama. She held this title from June 2009 to February 6, 2012. She currently provides advice to the state department on arms control, missile defense and civil nuclear cooperation.

Tauscher was also appointed as the vice chair designate of the Atlantic Council's Brent Snowcroft center on international security. She will be inaugurated later this year.

Prior to her role at the State Department, she served from 1997 until 2009 as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 10th Congressional District. She has also worked in investment banking and in the financial industry for companies such as Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Bear Stearns, and Drexel Burnham Lambert. She was also an officer of the American Stock Exchange.