Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the military officer who directed the Iran strikes in June, has officially retired after three years as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), where he led American forces across the Middle East.
A West Point graduate, Kurilla took command of CENTCOM in 2022 and was responsible for planning and overseeing at least 15 major joint combat operations, according to the command.
Two of those operations occurred in his final months: Operation Rough Rider against the Houthis in Yemen earlier this year, and Operation Midnight Hammer, which struck Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Operation Midnight Hammer targeted sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, employing more than 125 U.S. aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. A guided-missile submarine also launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at critical Iranian targets.
“General Kurilla is a bold, dynamic, and inspiring leader who strikes fear into the hearts of America’s enemies,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a June statement to Fox News Digital. “He’s a warrior through and through who always puts his country, mission, and troops first. It has been an honor to serve alongside him in defense of our great nation.”
Kurilla dedicated much of his career to operations in the Middle East. Between 2004 and 2014, he commanded both conventional and special operations forces on consecutive tours within CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. During that time, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is also remembered for a 2005 firefight in Mosul, Iraq, where he was shot multiple times. That battle earned him a Bronze Star with valor and one of his two Purple Hearts.
Notable CENTCOM leaders in the past include former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who served during President Trump’s first term, and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who served under President Joe Biden.
In early August, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper assumed command of CENTCOM, one of 11 unified combatant commands that cover 21 nations in the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Like Kurilla, Cooper has extensive experience in the region. His past assignments include serving as CENTCOM’s deputy commander and leading U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, where he advanced the use of unmanned vessels in the fleet.
Cooper officially took command on August 8 during a ceremony in Tampa, Florida, where CENTCOM headquarters are located. Kurilla’s retirement was marked the same day, a CENTCOM spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“U.S. Central Command and the entire joint force have performed exceptionally well under the leadership of Gen. Kurilla, helping to bolster partnerships, increase lethality of U.S. forces, and defend Americans and civilians abroad,” Cooper said in a Navy statement. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead America’s sons and daughters as we support the important mission of enhancing regional security and stability in the Central Command region.”
