{"id":25230,"date":"2022-02-18T13:11:42","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T13:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/02\/18\/kurilla-confirmed-as-new-centcom-head-by-the-senate\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:13:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:13:00","slug":"kurilla-confirmed-as-new-centcom-head-by-the-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2022\/02\/18\/kurilla-confirmed-as-new-centcom-head-by-the-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Kurilla confirmed as new CENTCOM head by the Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Senate on Thursday confirmed President Joe Biden\u2019s pick to lead U.S. Central Command<\/a> as part of a slate of military promotions ahead of the chamber\u2019s holiday break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla<\/a>, who currently serves as the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina, was approved Thursday evening without objection for the new post leading military operations in the Middle East. He is expected to be sworn into the new post in coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kurilla previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division<\/a> and served as CENTCOM\u2019s chief of staff. He is best known for his time as a Stryker battalion commander with the 25th Infantry Division in 2005, where he was shot three times during a battle with Iraqi insurgents but continued to fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 55-year-old will also be promoted to a four-star general in the move. He\u2019ll replace Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who has led Central Command since March 2019 and is expected to retire in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\t