General Erik Kurilla becomes new head of U.S. Central Command at MacDill

A new general is now heading U.S. Central Command at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base. 

General Erik Kurilla is now CENTCOM’s 18th and newest commander, as of last Friday afternoon. 

He will succeed now-retired General Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, who served as CENTCOM commander for the last three years, with over four decades of military service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Commanding CENTCOM has been, without a doubt, the single greatest honor of my 42-year career,” McKenzie said in a statement.

Kurilla previously commanded the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg and served as the CENTCOM chief of staff.

– Kelly Hayes, Extensive Enterprises