Michael Erik Kurilla (born 16 May 1966) is a United States Army general who has served as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since 2022. He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps from 2019 to 2022 and before that as the chief of staff of Central Command from 2018 to 2019.
Michael Kurilla | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Birth name | Michael Erik Kurilla |
| Nickname(s) | Gorilla |
| Born | 16 May 1966 California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1988–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Central Command XVIII Airborne Corps 82nd Airborne Division 75th Ranger Regiment 2nd Ranger Battalion 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart (2) |
| Alma mater | |
Kurilla was born in California and raised in Minnesota. He was commissioned in 1988 upon graduating from the United States Military Academy and has served as an infantry officer in the United States Army. During his career he has been deployed during conflicts in Panama, Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and his notable commands have included the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Kurilla was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star with valor during the Iraq War.
Early life and education
editBorn in California on 16 May 1966[1] 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 master's degree in national security studies from the National War College.[2] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the United States Army as an infantry officer in 1988.[3]
Army career
editDuring his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[4] and in the Gulf War, as well as Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and was part of the Kosovo Force and the Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2] From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[2] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.[4] In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.[5] 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."[5][6][7] Kurilla later commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 75th Ranger Regiment.[2][4]
He was the assistant commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command from 2012 to 2014, deputy commanding general (maneuver) of 1st Infantry Division from 2014 to 2015, and deputy director for special operations and counter-terrorism of the Joint Staff from 2015 to 2016.[8] 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.[8] He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019.[3] In early 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[9]
CENTCOM commander
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In January 2022, he was nominated for promotion to four-star general and assignment as commander of U.S. Central Command.[10][5][11] Kurilla took up the post in April 2022.[2][12] As the CENTCOM commander since the start of the Middle Eastern crisis in 2023, Kurilla has provided the Biden and Trump administrations with military options and oversaw their implementation. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time of his nomination, described Kurilla as the "perfect leader of CENTCOM" due to his knowledge and his experience in both combat and staff officer positions.[13]
In April 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 military leaders were killed.[14] In September he again visited Israel for consultations with defence minister Yoav Gallant.[15]
As of November 2024, Kurilla was under investigation after shoving an airman upon being asked to take his seat and buckle up for his safety during a flight to Israel.[16]
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In early 2025, he was reportedly one of the two candidates considered by the second Trump administration to replace General Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but the position was given to Dan Caine.[17]
On 10 June 2025, during the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on its nuclear program, Kurilla said at a congressional hearing that he prepared a "wide range" of military options for President Donald Trump if negotiations fail.[18] Kurilla has called for a military response against Iran following the Iran–Israel war; his role in the conflict was considered to be unusually significant, with U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth seen as deferring to Kurilla during the conflict.[19][20]
Personal life
editKurilla and his wife Mary Paige have two daughters.[2]
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[21]
Awards and decorations
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References
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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.
- ^ a b c d e f "Commander, General Michael E. Kurilla". United States Central Command. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ a b "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm". www.army.mil.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Myers, Meghan (7 January 2021). "XVIII Airborne Corps commander set to be next CENTCOM boss". Military Times.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "General Michael E. Kurilla – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "PN1606 — Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Webcast: CENTCOM Welcomes New Commander". DVIDS. 1 April 2022.
- ^ Stancy, Diana (19 June 2025). "Kurilla warfare: Meet the general leading US military forces in the Middle East amid Iran conflict". Fox News.
- ^ Vinograd, Cassandra, and Eric Schmitt (11 April 2024). "U.S. Sends a Top General to Israel Amid Fears of Iranian Strikes". New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/gallant-meets-visiting-centcom-chief-kurilla-on-middle-east-situation-cooperation/
- ^ Bath, Alison (1 November 2024). "4-star Army general overseeing US operations in Middle East investigated over shove". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ Schmitt, Eric (23 February 2025). "Trump's Frustration With Generals Resulted in an Unconventional Pick". New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 February 2025.
- ^ Timotija, Filip (10 June 2025). "CENTCOM Commander gave Trump 'wide range' of military options if Iran talks fail". The Hill.
- ^ Henderson, Cameron (19 June 2025). "The 'jacked gorilla' general pushing Trump to strike Iran". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Detsch, Jack; McLeary, Paul (19 June 2025). "Hegseth defers to general on Pentagon's plans for Iran". Politico. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla" (PDF).