RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has bestowed the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class upon the former commander of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), retired General Michael Kurilla.

Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman conferred the award upon the directives of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ceremony took place at the defense minister’s office in Riyadh on Thursday.

The King Abdulaziz Medal, often referred to as the Order of King Abdulaziz, is one of the highest and most prestigious civilian and military honors in Saudi Arabia. Named after the Kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the order was officially inaugurated by King Faisal on March 20, 1971.

General Kurilla, who retired from active duty in August 2025, served as the 15th commander of CENTCOM, overseeing US military operations across 21 countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.

During his tenure at CENTCOM from April 2022 to August 2025, Kurilla was instrumental in deepening the eight-decade military partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia. He made numerous strategic visits to the Kingdom, working closely with top defense leaders, including Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.

Their frequent engagements focused on advancing joint military readiness, expanding regional security integration, and addressing evolving threats, such as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.