Michael Kurilla

Erik Kurilla
Official portrait, 2022
Birth nameMichael Erik Kurilla
Nickname(s)Gorilla
Born (1966-05-16) 16 May 1966 (age 57)
California, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1988–present
RankGeneral
Commands heldUnited States Central Command
XVIII Airborne Corps
82nd Airborne Division
75th Ranger Regiment
1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (4)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star (5)
Purple Heart (2)
Alma mater

Michael Erik Kurilla (born 16 May 1966) is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since 1 April 2022. He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and before that as the chief of staff of United States Central Command.

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. After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988. During his early career Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. 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." He is a former commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment. From 2012 to 2014 he was the Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. 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. He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019. In 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.

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

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)

This page was last updated at 2024-03-24 11:59 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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