Brig. Gen. Michael D. Curry is the Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force- Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command. He oversees a corps-level headquarters staff across multiple locations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility to achieve commander’s objectives to set security conditions for long-term security cooperation frameworks in Iraq and Syria.
Brig. Gen. Curry grew up in Edon, Ohio and received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 1998. Brig. Gen. Curry has served in Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Staff, Joint Staff, and Air Education and Training Command assignments, commanding at the squadron, Joint Special Operations Air Component and wing level. He has deployed throughout the world, conducting special operations in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Curry served as Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force. As a command pilot, he logged more than 3,400 flying hours in a variety of special operations aircraft.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, General Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Master of Science in Aerospace Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Masters of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998–April 1999 Wing Scheduling Officer, 4th Operational Support Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
2. April 1999–September 1999 Student, 84th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. September 1999–June 2000 Student, VT-35, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
4. June 2000–March 2005 MC-130E Pilot and Instructor Pilot, 8th Special Operation Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
5. March 2005–September 2005 Wing Executive Officer and MC-130E Instructor Pilot, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. September 2005–April 2009 Evaluator Pilot and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Special Operations Squadron
7. April 2009–July 2010 Aide-de-Camp, SecAF, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2010–June 2011 Student, Mid-Career Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
9. June 2011–June 2012 Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2012–June 2015 Operations Officer and Commander, Special Operations Squadron
11. July 2015–June 2016 Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2016–February 2017 Branch Chief, Levant and SOUTHCOM, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. February 2017–March 2018 Senior Executive Assistant, Director for Operations, J3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. March 2018–July 2018 Division Chief, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. March 2018–2020 Vice Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. July 2020–June 2022 Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
17. July 2022–April 2024 Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. May 2024–present Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2016–February 2017, Branch Chief, Levant and SOUTHCOM, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. February 2017–March 2018, Senior Executive Assistant, Director for Operations, J3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. March 2018–July 2018, Division Chief, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
4. May 2024–present, Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,400 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, C-12, C-130E, MC-130E, MC-130H, MC-130J, C-208, PC-6, BE-200, CN-235, B-90, PAX-750XL, MX-7, U-28A, UH-1N, TH-1, HH-60W, CV-22
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Graduate with Military Distinction U.S. Air Force Academy, 1998
Airlift Tanker Association Young Leadership Award, 2005
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major December 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2011
Colonel April 1, 2018
Brigadier General Frocked
(Current as of July 2024)