Major General (Ret.) Edison E. Scholes
U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment.
Major General (Ret.) Edison E. Scholes served 35 years in U.S. Army key leadership positions from platoon leader to deputy commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps, Third U.S. Army, and a major NATO command. He has served in Infantry, Airborne Infantry, Special Forces, and Ranger units, to include four combat tours in three conflicts. Primary theater of interest since 1980 has been Middle East. Retired from active military in 1996 as Major General to assume position as Program General Manager of Army supervised contract to provide training and support to Saudi Arabian National Guard. After six and a half years in Saudi Arabia, returned to U.S. in 2002 as private consultant. Since June 2002, worked as private contractor for several U.S. firms, which involved defense related work in Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Algeria, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia and USA.
CAREER EXPERIENCE:
Program General Manager, 1996-2002. Worked in Saudi Arabia for six and a half years for Vinnell/Northrup Grumman Corporation to manage the implementation of U.S. Army-supervised contract, which provided all necessary training and support to Saudi Arabian National Guard, their nation’s immediate ready force of 100K soldiers. Planned and supervised training from individual level to unit level to national command staff level. Provided all support requested to include construction projects. Supervised the work of 350 Americans, 400 Saudis and 800 sub-contract workers. Reorganized and modernized their forces through improved training in schools and units, and through the extensive use of graded field exercises.
Deputy Commander and Commander of U.S. Army Forces, NATO Major Command, Turkey, 1993-1995. Responsible for all operational and contingency planning, and exercises for NATO Land Southeast Command in Turkey. Involved wartime planning against Syria, Iran, Iraq, and other countries along NATO’s southeastern boundary.
Deputy Commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, N.C., 1991-93. Provided command supervision for 25 Brigade-size units in SE United States for all operations, training, exercises and deployments. Supervised the management and operations of Fort Bragg.
Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of XVIII Airborne Corps, 1990-91, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. Led the deployment of XVIII Airborne Corps elements into Saudi Arabia on 9 Aug. ’90 for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Forward Commander of XVIII Airborne Corps forces deployed to Saudi Arabia for first three weeks of Desert Shield/Storm. Responsible for command supervision of 50,000 soldiers of Corps units for combat operations and support during the war. Remained in theater until all Corps troops and equipment out of Saudi Arabia.
Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force-South (JTF-South) and Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, 1989-90, as Chief of Staff of JTF-South, led the deployment of Corps elements to Panama in preparation and implementation of Operation Just Cause. As Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, supervised all operations and activities of Corps and Fort Bragg.
Assistant Division Commander, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., 1988-89. Responsible for the training, support, deployment and employment of assigned units of the Division.
Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff, Third U.S. Army/ARCENT, Fort McPherson, Georgia, 1985-88. Responsible for the operational/contingency planning and coordination, support, exercises, theater programs, deployment and employment of all Army forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
Commander, Infantry Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1983-1985. Responsible for the basic and individual training to Army standard of Infantry recruits. Trained some 38,000 Infantry Soldiers during this time.
Deputy G-3, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 1980-83. Responsible for the planning, coordination, assessment, deployment and exercises of Corps units in support of all combatant CINCs. Corps was also Army Headquarters for Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) for Middle East Theater before CENTCOM was formed.
Commander, 2d Training Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1977-79. Responsible to train to Army standard all new Infantry officers. Completely revamped the training program from 90% in classroom to 90% in field environment with assigned training cadre.
Commander, Infantry Battalion, Korea, 1976-77. Responsible for the training, discipline, welfare, deployment, employment and combat readiness of battalion personnel and equipment. Participated in “tree-cutting” crisis against North Korea.
U.S. Army Representative to USMC Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia, 1975-76. Taught U.S. Army subjects at all USMC schools at Quantico and served as member of USMC Worldwide Briefing Team.
Executive Assistant to Comptroller of the Army, Pentagon, 1971-74. Responsible to prepare Comptroller for all official trips, meetings, briefings and duties as Comptroller and Chairman of Board, Army/AF Exchange Service.
Senior Advisor, I Corps Ranger Command (ARVN), Vietnam, 1970-71. Responsible for the planning, coordination, organization, deployment, support and combat operations of 9 Ranger Battalions and a Ranger Group located within I Corps Tactical Zone. Provided command and support to U.S. Ranger Advisors in units. Transitioned 9 ARVN Special Forces Battalions to ARVN Ranger Battalions-BDQ. Assisted in planning and support, and participated in support of BDQ in first Operational Level Operation (LAM SON 719) in Vietnam.
Commander (ANGRY SKIPPER-6), D Company, 2d Battalion, 8th Cav (Airborne), and S-3, 1st Battalion, 12th Cav (Airborne), 1st Air Cav Div, Vietnam, 1967-68. Participated in combat operations throughout I and II Corps Tactical Zones; including Bong Son, An Lao Valley, Tuy Hoa, Dak To, Tam Quan, Hue, Quang Tri, Khe Sanh, A Shau Valley, and 101 Base Area.
Commander, Operational Detachment A, 10th Special Forces Group, Bad Tolz, Germany, 1963-66. Responsible for the planning, training, exercises, and conduct of unconventional operations in Europe, Balkans, and Middle East. Also responsible for conduct of MOS course, to include tradecraft training, for Operations and Intelligence Sergeants.
Executive Officer and Platoon Leader, Infantry Rifle Company, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1961-63. Participated in Cuban Crisis and trained to accomplish amphibious landings during planned assault.
EDUCATION:
Civilian.
Bachelor of Science (cum laude) in Physics, and Distinguished Military Graduate,
North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega, Georgia.
Master of Science, Operations Research, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.
Defense Policy Seminar, Harvard University JFK School of Government, Wash. D.C.
Executive Leadership Course, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
Military.
Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses
USMC Command and Staff College
U.S. Army War College
General Officer Capstone Course
NATO Senior Officer Course
Ranger Course
Airborne Course (US, German, and British)
Special Warfare Course
Special Forces Officer Course
Counterinsurgency Course
Jumpmaster Course
Pathfinder Course
MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab
Special Forces Tab
Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
*Vietnamese Ranger Badge(BDQ)
USMC Parachutist Badge
Vietnamese Master Parachutist Badge
Army General Staff Badge
13 Foreign Parachutist/Ranger Badge(s)*
German Parachutist Badge
British Parachutist Badge
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP:
Canadian Parachutist Badge
Israeli Parachutist Badge
Angry Skipper Association
Australian Parachutist Badge
Special Operations Association
Jordanian Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Association
Italian Parachutist Badge
Veterans of Special Forces
Argentinean Parachutist Badge
U.S. Army Ranger Association
Guatemalan Parachutist Badge
1st Cavalry Division Association
Peruvian Parachutist Badge
82d Airborne Division Association
Russian Parachutist Badge(not listed on 214)
The 75th Ranger Regiment Association/Biet Dong Quan
XVIII Airborne Corps Association
Red Beret International Association
Air Commando Association
The Mountain Ranger Association
Worldwide Army Rangers Inc.
Swamp Rangers Association
NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE and STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI HALL of FAME MEMBER
RANGER HALL OF FAME MEMBER
REGIMENT: Member of 1st SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Device and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal (6 awards)
Army Commendation Medal w/Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 6 Campaign Stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 3 Campaign Stars
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (3 awards)
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Medal w/ Silver Star, Bronze Star and Palm (unit award)
Vietnam Service Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (KSA)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award
Recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution MEDAL of HONOR for 2009