Michael Kurilla

Erik Kurilla
Erik Kurilla
	Official portrait, 2022
Birth name	Michael Erik Kurilla
Nickname(s)	Gorilla
Born	16 May 1966 (age 57); 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

Last updated April 13, 2024

Michael Erik Kurilla (born 16 May 1966)^[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

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

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

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

	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)

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References

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

↑ "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy". 1991.
↑ "PN1606 — Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress . 5 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
1 2 3 Myers, Meghan (7 January 2021). "XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss". Military Times .
↑ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
↑ "Webcast: CENTCOM Welcomes New Commander". DVIDS. 1 April 2022.
1 2 3 "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
1 2 3 "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm". www.army.mil.
1 2 3 "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla". United States Central Command. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
1 2 3 "Battling terrorism in Afghanistan from over-the-horizon is 'extremely difficult,' says nominee to command CENTCOM". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
↑ Cooper, Helene (7 January 2022). "Biden Nominates Combat Leader to Head Central Command" – via NYTimes.com.
↑ Yon, Michael (31 August 2005). "Gates of Fire". Michael Yon Online. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
↑ "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.
↑ 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)
↑ "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla" (PDF).

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

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[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.

[MilitaryTimes-3] 1 2 3 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.

[GOMO-6] 1 2 3 "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.

[Corps_CoC-7] 1 2 3 "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm". www.army.mil.

[CENTCOM-8] 1 2 3 "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla". United States Central Command. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[Stripes-9] 1 2 3 "Battling terrorism in Afghanistan from over-the-horizon is 'extremely difficult,' says nominee to command CENTCOM". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[NYT-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).

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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: Sasha Baker (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 John C. Aquilino, 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