Michael Kurilla

U.S. Army general

Erik Kurilla

Official portrait, 2022

Birth name| Michael Erik Kurilla
Nickname(s)| Gorilla
Born|  (1962-05-16) 16 May 1962 (age 62)
California, U.S.
Allegiance| United States
Service/branch| United States Army
Years of service| 1988–present
Rank| General
Commands held| United States Central Command
XVIII Airborne Corps
82nd Airborne Division
75th Ranger Regiment
1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars|

* Operation Just Cause
* Gulf War
* Iraq War
* War in Afghanistan
* Operation Inherent Resolve

Awards| Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (4)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star (5)
Purple Heart (2)
Alma mater|

* United States Military Academy (BS)
* Regis University (MBA)
* National War College (MA)

Michael Kurilla's voice

Kurilla's opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the FY2024 USCENTCOM posture
Recorded 16 March 2023

Michael Erik Kurilla (born 16 May 1962)[1] is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since 1 April 2022.[2][3][4][5] He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and before that as the chief of staff of United States Central Command.[6][7]

## Biography[edit]

Gen. Kurilla is congratulated by his predecessor, Gen Frank McKenzie as he assumes command of CENTCOM on 1 April 2022.

Born in California and raised in Elk River, Minnesota, Kurilla received a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Military Academy, an MBA from Regis University, and a masters degree in national security studies from the National War College.[8] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988.[7] During his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[9] and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia.[8]

From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[8] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.[9] In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.[3] He was awarded a Bronze Star with "V" device after a battle in Mosul in which he "was shot three times but continued to fire back at insurgents while directing his troops."[3][10][11] He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment.[9] From 2012 to 2014 he was the Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command.[6] He served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 2016 to 2018 and Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command from 2018 to 2019.[6] He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019.[7]

In 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[12]

In 2024 he was dispatched to Israel in anticipation of an Iranian counter-attack following the 2024 Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus by Israel on April 1, in which several Iranian militiary leaders were killed.[13]

## Personal life[edit]

General Kurilla was injured by a car bomb and gunfire while serving as commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry (2004–2005) during a battle in Mosul against Al-Qaeda. General Kurilla is married and a father of two.

## Service positions[edit]

* 1988–2004: Served in a variety of command positions in various infantry battalions during which they participated in the Gulf War and the stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina
* 2004–2005: Commander of the First Battalion of the 24th Infantry Regiment, Iraq
* 2006–2008: Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment Second Battalion, Iraq and Afghanistan
* 2009–2011: Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment
* 2012–2014: Assistant Commander for Support of the Joint Special Operations Command
* 2014–2015: Deputy Commanding General of the First Infantry Division
* 2015–2016: Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism of the Joint Staff
* 2016–2018: Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division
* 2018–2019: Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM)
* 2019–2022: Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps
* 2022–present: CENTCOM Commander[14]

## Awards and decorations[edit]

| Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)

|

| Ranger tab
| Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star
| Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
| United States Central Command Badge
| 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
| French Parachutist Badge
| 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
| 10 Overseas Service Bars

| Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

|

| Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

| Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
| Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and four oak leaf clusters

| Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
| Defense Meritorious Service Medal
| Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
| Joint Service Commendation Medal
| Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
| Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
| Army Presidential Unit Citation
| Joint Meritorious Unit Award
| Valorous Unit Award
| Meritorious Unit Commendation

| National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and service star
| Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
| Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
| Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars

| Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
| Korea Defense Service Medal
| Humanitarian Service Medal
| Army Service Ribbon
| Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 7

| NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael E. Kurilla.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

1. ^ "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy". 1991.
2. ^ "PN1606 — Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
3. ^ a b c Myers, Meghan (7 January 2021). "XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss". Military Times.
4. ^ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
5. ^ "Webcast: CENTCOM Welcomes New Commander". DVIDS. 1 April 2022.
6. ^ a b c "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
7. ^ a b c "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm". www.army.mil.
8. ^ a b c "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla". United States Central Command. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
9. ^ a b c "Battling terrorism in Afghanistan from over-the-horizon is 'extremely difficult,' says nominee to command CENTCOM". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
10. ^ Cooper, Helene (7 January 2022). "Biden Nominates Combat Leader to Head Central Command" - via NYTimes.com.
11. ^ Yon, Michael (31 August 2005). "Gates of Fire". Michael Yon Online. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
12. ^ "Biden's pick to lead military in Middle East says U.S. has a 'moral obligation' to help Afghans left behind". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
13. ^ Vinograd, Cassandra, and Eric Schmitt (11 April 2024). "U.S. Sends a Top General to Israel Amid Fears of Iranian Strikes". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
14. ^ "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla" (PDF).

## External links[edit]

* Appearances on C-SPAN

Military offices

Preceded by

Richard D. Clarke

|  Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division
2016–2018  | Succeeded by

James J. Mingus

Preceded by

Terry R. Ferrell

|  Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command
2018–2019  | Succeeded by

Scott McKean

Preceded by

Paul LaCamera

|  Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps
2019–2022  | Succeeded by

Christopher T. Donahue

Preceded by

Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.

|  Commander of United States Central Command
2022–present  | Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

Laura J. Richardson

as Commander of U.S. Southern Command |  Order of precedence of the United States
as Commander of U.S. Central Command | Succeeded by

Christopher G. Cavoli

as Commander of U.S. European Command

Commanders of United States Central Command

* Kingston
* Crist
* Schwarzkopf
* Hoar
* Peay
* Zinni
* Franks
* Abizaid
* Fallon
* Petraeus
* Mattis
* Austin
* Votel
* McKenzie
* Kurilla

* v
* t
* e

United States Regional Commanders

Africa
Gen Michael E. Langley

Central
GEN Michael E. Kurilla

European
GEN Christopher G. Cavoli

Northern
Gen Gregory M. Guillot

Indo-Pacific
ADM Samuel J. Paparo Jr.

Southern
GEN Laura J. Richardson

Space
Gen Stephen N. Whiting

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* v
* t
* e

Senior officials in the United States Department of Defense

Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin

Deputy Secretary of Defense
Kathleen Hicks

Secretaries of the Military Departments

Secretary of the Army: Christine Wormuth
Secretary of the Navy: Carlos Del Toro
Secretary of the Air Force: Frank Kendall III

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr., USAF

Under Secretaries of the Military Departments

Under Secretary of the Army: Gabe Camarillo
Under Secretary of the Navy: Erik Raven
Under Secretary of the Air Force: Kristyn E. Jones (acting)

Under Secretaries of Defense for

Acquisition and Sustainment: William A. LaPlante
Research and Engineering: Heidi Shyu
Policy: Amanda J. Dory (acting)
Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer: Michael J. McCord
Personnel and Readiness: Ashish Vazirani (acting)
Intelligence: Milancy Harris (acting)

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
ADM Christopher W. Grady, USN

Chiefs of the Military Services

Chief of Staff of the Army: GEN Randy A. George
Commandant of the Marine Corps: Gen Eric M. Smith
Chief of Naval Operations: ADM Lisa M. Franchetti
Chief of Staff of the Air Force: Gen David W. Allvin
Chief of Space Operations: Gen B. Chance Saltzman

Chief of the National Guard Bureau
GEN Daniel R. Hokanson, USA

Unified Combatant Command Commanders

Africa: Gen Michael E. Langley, USMC
Central: GEN Michael E. Kurilla, USA
Cyber: Gen Timothy D. Haugh, USAF
European: GEN Christopher G. Cavoli, USA
Indo-Pacific: ADM Samuel J. Paparo Jr., USN
Northern: Gen Gregory M. Guillot, USAF
Southern: GEN Laura J. Richardson, USA
Space: Gen Stephen N. Whiting, USSF
Special Operations: GEN Bryan P. Fenton, USA
Strategic: Gen Anthony J. Cotton, USAF
Transportation: Gen Jacqueline Van Ovost, USAF

a \- Acting
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