Richard Scholtes

Richard A. Scholtes
Richard A. Scholtes
	Major General Richard A. Scholtes
Born	18 March 1934 (age 90); Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1951–1986
Rank	Major General
Commands	2nd Armored Division; Joint Special Operations Command; Brigade 76, 4th Infantry Division; 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division; 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Soldier's Medal; Bronze Star Medal (2); Purple Heart (2); Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal (6)

Richard Adrian Scholtes^[1]^[2] (born 18 March 1934)^[3] is a retired United States Army major general who served as the first commander of Joint Special Operations Command.^[4]^[5] Scholtes' experience as the commander of Joint Special Operations Task Force 123 during the United States invasion of Grenada made him an important figure in the reorganization of the US special operations community. After his tenure as JSOC commander, Scholtes retired from active service so he could candidly testify in August 1986 before Congress about the perceived need for a separate, four-star, special operations command. Then-Senator William Cohen described Scholtes' testimony as vital in the decision of Congress to create the United States Special Operations Command.^[6]

Scholtes enlisted in the Army on 31 October 1951. He is a 1957 graduate of the United States Military Academy with a B.S. degree in military science. Scholtes later earned an M.B.A. degree in data processing from George Washington University.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Awards and decorations

^ ^a ^b U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired List. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 January 1962. p. 484. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
^ ^a ^b "Class of 1957—Register of Graduates". Official Register of the Officers and Cadets. United States Military Academy. 1969. p. 731. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
^ ^a ^b "Major General Richard A. Scholtes". Army Executive Biographies. Headquarters, Department of the Army. 1985. p. 391. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
^ Jeff Gerth, Philip Taubman; et al. (8 June 1984). "U.S. MILITARY CREATES SECRET UNITS FOR USE IN SENSITIVE TASKS ABROAD". New York Times.
^ Philip Taubman (5 December 1984). "U.S. MILITARY TRIES TO CATCH UP IN FIGHTING TERROR". New York Times.
^ US Special Operations Command. "Tip of the Spear" (PDF). specialoperations.net.