• Source: Michael Kurilla

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



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.
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. In September he again visited Israel for consultations with defence minister Yoav Gallant.
As of November 2024, Kurilla is under investigation after shoving an airman upon being asked to take his seat and buckle up for his safety during flight to Israel.




Personal life


General Kurilla and his wife Mary Paige have two daughters.




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






References



This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.




External links


Appearances on C-SPAN

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Michael Kurilla
• Chris Donahue (general)
• XVIII Airborne Corps
• Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
• April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel
• Leadership of the United States Central Command
• United States Central Command
• Paul LaCamera
• 24th Infantry Regiment (United States)
• John S. Kolasheski