Michael Kurilla Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Birth Name	Michael Erik Kurilla
Earned Name	The Gorilla
Nickname	Erik
Profession	Military Official
Physical Stats
Eye Colour	Brown
Hair Colour	Dark Brown
Military Service
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	1988-present
Rank	General
Commands	• United States Central Command • XVIII Airborne Corps • 82nd Airborne Division • 75th Ranger Regiment • 2nd Ranger Battalion • 1st Battalion • 24th Infantry Regiment
Battles/Wars	• Operation Just Cause • Gulf War • Operation Uphold Democracy • Iraq War • War in Afghanistan • Operation Inherent Resolve • Operation Prosperity Guardian • Operation Midnight Hammer
Award(s)	• Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster • Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters • Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster • Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and four oak leaf clusters • Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster • Defense Meritorious Service Medal • Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters • Joint Service Commendation Medal • Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters • Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters • Army Presidential Unit Citation • Joint Meritorious Unit Award • Valorous Unit Award • Meritorious Unit Commendation • National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and service star • Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars • Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars • Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal • Korea Defense Service Medal • Humanitarian Service Medal • Army Service Ribbon • Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 7 • NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star • Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) • Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) • Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award) • Ranger tab • Master 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
Major Designation(s)	• 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
Personal Life
Date of Birth	16 May 1966 (Monday)
Age (as of 2024)	59 Years
Birthplace	California, U.S.
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Nationality	American
Hometown	Elk River, Minnesota
College/University	• United States Military Academy, United States • Regis University, Denver, Colorado • National War College, Washington, D.C., United States
Educational Qualification(s)	• A Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from United States Military Academy • M.B.A. from Regis University • Post Graduation in National Security Studies from National War College
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Controversy	Investigated for Shoving Airman During C-17 Flight Incident In November 2024, Michael Kurilla was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division for allegedly pushing an airman while flying in a C-17. Reportedly, Kurilla became irritated when the flight had some logistical and communication issues. Kurilla allegedly got upset and shoved an airman when he asked him to sit down and fasten his seatbelt for safety. The incident was witnessed by a number of service members. [1]NBC News
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Mary Paige
Children	Daughters- 2

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.
  

  Michael Kurilla while delivering a lecture to his soldiers

• 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.
  

  Michael Kurilla (left) during his visit to Amman, Jordan, as a leader of the U.S. Central Command (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.