Michael Erik Kurilla

Michael Erik Kurilla (born 16 May 1966) is a retired American general who served as the commander of United States Central Command from 2022 to 2025. He presided over the response to attacks on U.S. forces and other unrest after the October 7 attacks, and the U.S. involvement in the Twelve-Day War.

Kurilla was born in California and raised in Minnesota. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1988, and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the Army. During his career he was 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 stationed in the Middle East from 2004 to 2014, where he was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star with valor during the Iraq War. He 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.

Early life and education He was born in California on 16 May 1966 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. 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.

From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the United States Central Command, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. During his time in Mosul from 2004 to 2005, the battalion was instrumental in restoring control over the city after successful insurgent attacks on Iraqi police stations in November 2004.

Kurilla later commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 75th Ranger Regiment. 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. In early 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.

CENTCOM commander Gen. Kurilla is congratulated by his predecessor, Gen Frank McKenzie as he assumes command of CENTCOM on 1 April 2022. In January 2022, he was nominated for promotion to four-star general and assignment as commander of the United States Central Command. Kurilla took up the post in April 2022. 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. As the CENTCOM commander when the violence broke out in the region after the October 7 attacks and the start of the Gaza war, Kurilla has provided the Joe Biden and Donald Trump administrations with military options and oversaw their implementation. Kurilla worked to respond to attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and in the Red Sea. After the Iranian strikes against Israel that occurred that month, Kurilla began organizing a regional air defense network among countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. In September he again visited Israel for consultations with defence minister Yoav Gallant. 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.

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. In the spring of 2025, he oversaw Operation Rough Rider, the airstrikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen.

On 10 June 2025, during the negotiations between the United States 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. Kurilla has called for a military response against Iran following the Twelve-Day 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. He oversaw Operation Midnight Hammer on 22 June, the strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Kurilla recommended Cooper to President Donald Trump, who took Kurilla's advice into consideration.

Awards and decorations

Personal life Kurilla and his wife Mary Paige have two daughters.