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]
Erik Kurilla
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Birth name | Michael Erik Kurilla |
| Nickname(s) | Gorilla |
| Born | (1966-05-16) 16 May 1966 (age 58) California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | 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 |
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| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart (2) |
| Alma mater |
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Kurilla's opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the FY2024 USCENTCOM posture Recorded 16 March 2023 | |
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]
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 and his wife Mary Paige have two daughters.
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Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award) |
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Ranger tab |
 
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Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star |
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Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
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United States Central Command Badge |
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75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge |
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French Parachutist Badge |
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75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |
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10Overseas Service Bars |
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command 2018–2019 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps 2019–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of United States Central Command 2022–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by as Commander of U.S. Southern Command | Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Central Command |
Succeeded by as Commander of U.S. European Command |