User:Michael Kurilla

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

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 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 widower and a father of one.

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 Bronze oak leaf cluster	Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Bronze oak leaf cluster	Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and four oak leaf clusters Bronze oak leaf cluster	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 Bronze star	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 Bronze star	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 Bronze star	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael E. Kurilla. Public Domain 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. 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. "Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. "XVIII Airborne Corps hosts change of command, welcomes familiar Fort Bragg leader to the helm". www.army.mil. "Chief of Staff, Major General Michael "Erik" Kurilla". United States Central Command. Retrieved 13 February 2022. "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. "Israeli Defense Forces Biography of CENTCOM Commander, General Kurilla" (PDF). External links 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 vte United States Regional Commanders vte Senior officials in the United States Department of Defense Categories: 1966 birthsLiving peopleRecipients of the Defense Superior Service MedalRecipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)Recipients of the Legion of MeritUnited States Army generalsUnited States Army personnel of the Gulf WarUnited States Army personnel of the Iraq WarUnited States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)