Major General Michael Turello
Commander, Combined Task Force-Horn of Africa
Michael D. Turello earned a bachelor of political science degree from Millsaps College, and a Judicial Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the National War College. He was commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course.
He served ten years as a traditional Guardsman mobilizing twice for Operations Desert Storm and Uphold Democracy. He was a deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), and deployed as Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Iraq. He later served as Deputy Commanding General, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg. Prior to his current position, he served as Deputy Director, Planning, Security Cooperation and Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction-European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
He became Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in May 2019.
In the News…
Major General Michael Turello, head of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, declared a public health emergency in Djibouti that applies to all U.S. service members, Defense Department civilians and contractors under this authority at Camp Lemonier, the nearby Chabelley Airfield and those working at the Port of Djibouti.
“Combating COVID-19 is my top priority, Turello said in a statement. “By declaring a public health emergency, it keeps our forces, and those of our host nation partner, as healthy and safe as possible.”
The latest declaration gives Turello greater power in making sure DOD civilians and contractors comply with measures meant to prevent the spread of the illness and allows him to repurpose any facility at the Djibouti Base Cluster installation to respond to the virus.
“We are doing our part to contain the virus and minimize its impact. This is how we work in the current environment,” Turello said in the statement.
