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.

• 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^[14]