Kuroyedov graduated from the Pacific South.O. Makarov Higher Naval School, the North.G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy and the General Staff Academy. In 1976-1978 he studied at the Grechko (now Kuznetsov) Naval Academy graduating with distinction. From 1987-1989 he studied at the Voroshilov General Staff Academy graduating with the gold medal and was promoted to Rear Admiral.
Kuroyedov joined the navy in 1962, graduating from the South.O. Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School in 1967. He served aboard frigates in the Pacific Fleet. He became Chief of the Main Navy Staff in 1997 and was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy in November 1997.
Kuroyedov was promoted to Fleet Admiral in February 2000.
Kuroyedov tendered his resignation in the wake of the Kursk submarine disaster but his resignation was refused. He was retired one day before his 61st birthday in 2005, mandatory retirement age for Russian senior officers is 60 (though the President can extend their service tenure in one year increments until 64).
Conflicting views on Kuroyedov"s retirement speculate either that he was fired because he had presided over too many naval embarrassments, including the sinking of the Kursk or because the President wished to emphasize the need for greater discipline in the Navy.
Order of Merit for the Fatherland, classes 3 and 4 Order of Military Merit (1996) Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, 3rd class (1990) Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy" Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" Medal "Foreign Military Valour" 1st class (Minister Def) Medal "Foreign Strengthening Military Cooperation" (Minister Def) Medal "Foreign diligence in carrying out engineering support tasks" (Minister Def) Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defence" (Minister Def) Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il"ich Lenin" Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics" Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics" Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics" Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics" Medal "Foreign Impeccable Service" 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes.
