Erik Kurilla | |
---|---|
Birth name | Michael Erik Kurilla |
Nickname(s) | Gorilla |
Born | California, U.S. | 16 May 1966
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 | |
Awards |
Army 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) [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]
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 is married and a father of two.
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 |
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
{{
cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Erik Kurilla | |
---|---|
Birth name | Michael Erik Kurilla |
Nickname(s) | Gorilla |
Born | California, U.S. | 16 May 1966
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 | |
Awards |
Army 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) [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]
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 is married and a father of two.
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 |
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
{{
cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)