U.S. Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla speaks at a ceremony at Pointe du Hoc, France, on June 5, 2024. Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, is being investigated over a claim that he shoved an airman during a flight in September. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — The Pentagon’s top general in the Middle East is being investigated over a claim that he shoved a subordinate during a heated exchange on a recent flight to Israel, an official told Stars and Stripes on Friday.
The incident reportedly occurred in early September during a C-17 Globemaster III flight when Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, grew annoyed by communications issues on the transport plane, Military.com reported Thursday, citing an unidentified defense official.
Kurilla is accused of pushing an airman who asked him to take his seat and buckle up, according to an NBC News report the same day, citing three defense officials familiar with the investigation.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division “is aware of an alleged incident (regarding Kurilla) and is currently looking into it,” agency spokesman Mark Lunardi said in an email Friday. “No additional information is available at this time.”
CENTCOM did not immediately respond Friday to questions about the investigation.
As of Thursday, Kurilla had not been suspended from his position. Typically, officers who violate decorum or laws are suspended with pay pending the outcome of an investigation, according to Military.com.
Kurilla assumed command of CENTCOM in April 2022, overseeing U.S. operations in the Middle East and Asia, including efforts to counter Houthi militant attacks against ships in the Red Sea and operations in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State group.
Kurilla commissioned into the infantry from the U.S. Military Academy in 1988, according to his service biography.
His 36-year career includes multiple combat and operational deployments, and he has served as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps, among other leadership roles.
He also was Joint Staff deputy director for special operations and counterterrorism, and CENTCOM chief of staff.
