Iran Press/ America: The White House on Wednesday nominated Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads the XVIII Airborne Corps, for a fourth star. A defense official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday that he will be nominated to lead U.S. Central Command as well.
If confirmed by the Senate, Lt Gen Kurilla would succeed Gen Frank McKenzie, who has led Centcom one of the 11 unified combatant commands of the Department of Defence since 2019 and whose term expires on April 1.
Kurilla has extensive experience in the Middle East as a general officer. He previously served as commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division from 2016-2018. He also served as chief of staff of CENTCOM from 2018-2019 before leading the 18th Airborne Corps.
The US Gen McKenzie in September was forced to backtrack after media outlets showed a strike in Kabul that supposedly hit extremists but actually killed 10 civilians. 219
