Richard Scholtes

Richard A. Scholtes is a retired US Army Major General and the first commander of the US military's Joint Special Operations Command. Scholtes' experience as the commander of Joint Special Operations Task Force 123 during the US invasion of Grenada made him an important figure in the reorganization of the US special operations community and eventually led to his appointment to the newly formed JSOC. 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.