Note: This event has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), to deliver a public keynote address on the latest challenges and opportunities facing the United States and its Middle Eastern partners in the year ahead. Gen. Kurilla’s keynote will kick off the third MEI-CENTCOM Annual Conference, a closed event running March 29-30 with a series of high-level conversations among experts and practitioners from the U.S. and the region.
After his keynote, Gen. Kurilla will join Bilal Y. Saab, Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense and Security Program at MEI, for a public Q&A.
This event will be streamed via Zoom, broadcast live on this web page, and via MEI’s YouTube channel. Registration is required.
Detailed Speaker Biography
General Michael E. Kurilla
Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla commissioned into the Infantry from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 1988. Throughout his career, he has led Airborne, Mechanized, Stryker, Ranger, and Joint Special Operations units during combat and operational deployments, including Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Saudi Arabia/Iraq), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti), Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo-Macedonia), Operation Joint Resolve (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq). Gen. Kurilla spent every year from 2004 to 2014 leading conventional and special operations forces in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.
General Kurilla previously commanded the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry (Stryker), 2nd Ranger Battalion, the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the XVIII Airborne Corps.
In addition to command assignments as a General Officer, General Kurilla served as the Director of Operations and Assistant Commanding General for Joint Special Operations Command, Deputy Commanding General for the 1st Infantry Division, Joint Staff Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism, and Chief of Staff for U.S. Central Command.
Gen. Kurilla’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Device, Ranger Tab, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Image Courtesy of U.S. Central Command