[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 73 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E396-E397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL A.C. ROPER, THE FIRST 
 AFRICAN AMERICAN THREE-STAR GENERAL IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 29, 2024

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
career and achievements of Lieutenant General A.C. Roper, the first 
African American three-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve, as he 
celebrates his retirement from the U.S. Army.
  Lieutenant General Roper's exemplary service began after he was 
commissioned in 1983 as a student at the University of Alabama at 
Birmingham. His military education is extensive, including Chemical 
Officer Basic and Advance Courses (Honor Graduate of both), Public 
Affairs Officers Course, Equal Opportunity Advisors Course 
(Commandant's Award), Inspector General Course, Combined Arms Staff 
Services School, Command and General Staff College (Commandant's List), 
the US Army War College, the Joint Senior Reserve Component Officer 
Course, the Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) Course, the 
National Defense University's CAPSTONE Course, the NORTHCOM Joint Task 
Force Commanders Course, and Harvard University's National & 
International Security Seminar. He earned a Master of Science from the 
University of Alabama and a Master in Strategic Studies from the US 
Army War College. He furthered his education at the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI) National Academy and the FBI National Executive 
Institute. He specialized in protecting critical infrastructure and 
served on the Executive Board of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
  On May 14, 2021, Lieutenant General Roper broke a barrier within the 
armed services, becoming the first African American to become a three-
star general in the U.S. Army Reserve, earning the rank of Lieutenant 
General.
  Most recently, Lieutenant General A.C. Roper served as the Deputy 
Commander, U.S. Northern Command, and Vice Commander, U.S. Element, 
North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, 
Colorado. As Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General Roper assisted the 
Combatant Commander in anticipating, preparing for, and responding to 
threats against North America and within Northern Command's assigned 
area of responsibility. Additionally, he provided oversight of the U.S. 
Northern Command's mission to provide Defense Support of Civil 
Authorities.
  Throughout his decorated career, Lieutenant General Roper's 
reputation has always been one of purpose and passion. Prior to this 
current assignment, he commanded the 76th

[[Page E397]]

Operational Response Command in Salt Lake City, UT, which was the 
USAR's all-hazard response command. He also served as Commanding 
General--80th Training Command (OPCON to TRADOC), Acting Deputy 
Commanding General--CBRN, 335th Signal Command, and Commander of the 
415th CBRN Brigade, where he was dual-hatted as the Task Force 
Operations Commander, JTF-51, ARNORTH for the C2CRE-A homeland response 
mission. Lieutenant General Roper was deployed to Saudi Arabia during 
Operation Desert Shield and to Afghanistan in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom. He also supported Joint Task Force Andrew relief 
operations in Southern Florida.
  Lieutenant General Roper's other general officer level assignments 
include duties as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, 
Fort Bragg, NC, and Deputy Chief, Army Reserve, Office of the Chief of 
Army Reserve, headquartered at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. In 2018, 
Roper traveled to France during the World War I Centennial 
Commemorations and walked the same battlefield as his grandfather, Cpl. 
Roper who served in the 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry 
Division, and was a significant inspiration for Lieutenant General 
Roper's career.
  Lieutenant General Roper's awards and decorations include the 
Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with 
two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal 
with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat 
Action Badge, and various other awards. He also served as a principal 
member of the Secretary of the Army's Army Reserve Forces Policy 
Committee and the Secretary of Defense's Reserve Forces Policy Board.
  As a civilian, Lieutenant General Roper has over 33 years of law 
enforcement experience, serving as the Chief of Police of the 
Birmingham Police Department for a decade. He has also served as an 
Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice and on the Executive Board of the 
FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
  On a personal note, I got to know the Lieutenant General in his 
civilian capacity as the Police Chief for the City of Birmingham Police 
Department, for over 10 years. Chief Roper, as he was called, is a 
disciplined and principled servant leader who impressed me with his 
firm yet compassionate leadership style that commanded the respect of 
his fellow officers and endeared him to the Birmingham community. While 
serving as Police Chief, he continued to serve his country as a U.S. 
Army reservist whose deployment assignments were in Saudi Arabia and 
Afghanistan. Lieutenant General Roper is an honorable man, guided by 
his abiding faith in God and love of country shown in both his military 
and law enforcement service. On behalf of a grateful Nation, we honor 
Lieutenant General Roper for his 33 years in law enforcement and his 41 
years of military service. We commend him for his dedication, 
commitment, and strong belief in God, family, and country. I thank him.
  On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary career and 
exemplary service of Lieutenant General A.C. Roper for his 
contributions to our Nation and the enduring legacy of his service.

                          ____________________