Fron the Fayeteville Observer - "USASOC turns 20"
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/12/06/956462
"...............Twenty years ago last week, the Army activated U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg with then-Lt. Gen. Gary E. Luck as the first commander.
The anniversary will pass without much fanfare.
But the activation was significant. It put Army special operations forces under a three-star general reporting directly to Army headquarters in Washington, rather than a two-star general answering to Forces Command in Atlanta......."