Michael Kurilla

Some Lesser Known Facts About Michael Kurilla

• Michael Kurilla was raised in Elk River, Minnesota.

• In 1988, he joined the U.S. Army as an infantry officer after completing his studies at West Point.

• Michael Kurilla participated in the Gulf War, the U.S. invasion of Panama, and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti early in his career.

• He also participated in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

• Michael Kurilla served in regions under the U.S. Central Command, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, from 2004 to 2014.

• He commanded the 24th Infantry Regiment’s 1st Battalion in Iraq in 2005.

• Michael Kurilla was shot three times during a battle in Mosul, but he continued to fight and give orders. It earned him a Bronze Star with a “V” for valour.

• He later rose to command the 75th Ranger Regiment, initially starting with the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

• Michael Kurilla served as the assistant commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command from 2012 to 2014.

• He then served as the 1st Infantry Division’s deputy commanding general (manoeuvre) from 2014 to 2015.

• In 2015, Michael Kurilla began working as the Joint Staff’s deputy director for special operations and counterterrorism. He held this position until 2016.

  

• From 2016 to 2018, he served as the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.

• Michael Kurilla served as U.S. Central Command’s Chief of Staff from 2018 to 2019.

• In October 2019, he assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

• In 2022, he was sent to Germany to look after American troop movements during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

• In January 2022, Michael Kurilla was selected to lead the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) after being nominated for a promotion to four-star general.

• In April 2022, Michael Kurilla formally assumed command of CENTCOM.

  

• He has provided military counsel and implemented plans for the Biden and Trump administrations since the start of the Middle East crisis in 2023.

• General Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman at the time, once referred to him as the “perfect leader of CENTCOM,” because of his knowledge and experience.

• After Israel’s airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus in April 2024, Michael Kurilla was sent to Israel to get ready for a possible Iranian counterattack.

• He went to Israel in September 2024 to meet with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

• In 2025, Michael Kurilla was considered one of two contenders in the second Trump administration to succeed General Charles Q. Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but Dan Caine was chosen.

• During the Iran-Israel war (which started on 13 June 2025), he played a key role in the conflict and supported a military response against Iran.

• Reportedly, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth deferred to him during the crisis, demonstrating his strong influence.

• During the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations on 10 June 2025, Michael Kurilla informed Congress that he had prepared a huge military option for President Donald Trump in case the negotiations failed.