| Erik Kurilla | |
| Nickname: | Gorilla |
| Birth Name: | Michael Erik Kurilla |
| Birth Date: | 16 May 1966 |
| Birth Place: | California, U.S. |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1988–present |
| Rank: | General |
| Commands: | United States Central Command XVIII Airborne Corps 82nd Airborne Division 75th Ranger Regiment 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment |
| Awards: | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart (2) |
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. 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[8] and the Gulf War, as well as operations in Haiti, Kosovo, and Bosnia.[9]
From 2004 to 2014, he was stationed in the geographic area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command,[9] deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.[8] 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.[8] 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 military leaders were killed.[13]
General Michael Kurilla was injured by gunfire while serving as commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry. General Kurilla and his wife Mary Paige have two daughters.
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