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Kurilla was born in California and raised in Minnesota. He was commissioned in 1988 upon
graduating from the United States Military Academy and has served as an infantry officer in the United States Army. During his career, he has been 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.
Biography
Born in California on 16 May 1966[1] 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.[2] After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned into the United States Army as an infantry officer in 1988.[3] During his early career, Kurilla participated in the United States invasion of Panama[4] 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.[2]
From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[2] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.[4] In 2005, he deployed to Iraq as the commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.[5] He was awarded a Bronze Star with a "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."[5][6][7] Kurilla later commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 75th Ranger Regiment.[2][4]
He was the assistant commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command from 2012 to 2014, deputy commanding general (maneuver) of 1st Infantry Division from 2014 to 2015, and deputy director for special operations and counter-terrorism of the Joint Staff from 2015 to 2016.[8] 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.[8] He assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in October 2019.[3] In early 2022, he deployed to Germany to oversee U.S. troop deployments in response to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[9]
In January 2022, he was nominated for promotion to four-star general and assignment as commander of U.S. Central Command.[10][5][11] Kurilla took up the post in April 2022.[2][12] As the CENTCOM commander since the start of the Middle Eastern crisis in 2023, Kurilla has provided the Biden and Trump administrations with military options and overseen their implementation. 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."[13]
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In January 2022, he was nominated for promotion to four-star general and assignment as commander of U.S. Central Command.[10][5][11] Kurilla took up the post in April 2022.[2][12] As the CENTCOM commander since the start of the Middle Eastern crisis in 2023, Kurilla has provided the Biden and Trump administrations with military options and overseen their implementation. 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." [13]In April 2024, he was dispatched to Israel in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the 2024 Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus by Israel on April 1, in which several Iranian military
leaders were killed.[14] In September he again visited Israel for consultations with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. http://[15]
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| General Michael Kurilla in 2025 |
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.[16]
On 10 June 2025, during the negotiations between the U.S. 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.[17] Kurilla has called for a military response against Iran following the Iran–Israel war; his role in the conflict was considered to be unusually significant, with U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth seen as deferring to Kurilla during the conflict.[18][19]
Personal life
Kurilla and his wife, Mary Paige, have two daughters.[2
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[20]
Awards and decorations
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)
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