A. C. Roper

{{Infobox military person

|name = A. C. Roper Jr.

|image = LTG A. C. Roper Jr. (3).jpg

|birth_name =

|nickname =

|caption = Official portrait, 2023

|birth_date =

|birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

|allegiance = United States

|branch = United States Army

|branch_label = Branch

|serviceyears = 1983–2024

|rank = Lieutenant General

|commands = {{plainlist|

}}

|awards = {{ubl|Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)|Legion of Merit (3)|Bronze Star Medal|Meritorious Service Medal (4)|Joint Service Commendation Medal|Combat Action Badge}}

|alma_mater = {{ubl|United States Army War College (MSS)|University of Alabama (MS)}}

|spouse = {{marriage|Edith Roper|1985}}

|children =

|module =

{{Infobox police officer

|department = {{plainlist|

Montgomery Police Department (1983–1985)
Hoover Police Department (1985–2007)
Birmingham Police Department (2007–2017)}}

|serviceyears = 1983–1985 (MPD)
1985–2007 (HPD)
2007–2017 (BPD)

|status = Retired

|rank = Chief of Police (Birmingham)

|awards =

|child = yes

}}

A. C. Roper Jr. is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and retired police officer who last served as the deputy commander of United States Northern Command and vice commander of the American element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command from 2021 to 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.gomo.army.mil/public/Biography/usar-8067/ac-roper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508132239/https://www.gomo.army.mil/public/Biography/usar-8067/ac-roper|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2021|title=Lieutenant General A.C. Roper (USAR)|access-date=2021-05-08}} Before that, he served as the deputy commanding general of the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC) and prior to that, as deputy chief of the United States Army Reserve.

In his civilian career, Roper was chief of the Birmingham Police Department from 2007 to 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.usar.army.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/1596399/lt-gen-ac-roper/|title=Maj. Gen. A.C. Roper|access-date=14 July 2021}}{{Cite web|title=PN329 — Maj. Gen. A. C. Roper Jr. — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/329?|date=2021-04-13|access-date=2021-04-15|website=www.congress.gov}}{{cite web|first=Sherri|last=Jackson|url=https://www.cbs42.com/news/why-is-birmingham-police-chief-a-c-roper-retiring/|title=Why is Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper retiring?|date=2017-12-06|access-date=2021-04-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2018/06/former_police_chief_ac_roper_h.html|title=Former Police Chief A.C. Roper heading to the Pentagon as deputy chief of U.S. Army Reserve|date=2019-03-07|access-date=2021-04-20}} Roper's promotion makes him the first black United States Army Reserve lieutenant general.{{cite web|first=Carol|last=Robinson|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2021/05/former-birmingham-police-chief-makes-history-as-first-african-american-us-army-reserve-lieutenant-general.html|title=Former Birmingham police chief makes history as first Black US Army Reserve lieutenant general|date=11 May 2021}}

Roper graduated from Phillips High School in Birmingham, Alabama and enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He left the university after his sophomore year to join the Montgomery Police Department. Roper eventually completed a bachelor's degree at Troy State University.{{cite news|first=Carol|last=Robinson|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2017/11/departing_police_chief_ac_rope.html|title=Departing Police Chief A.C. Roper: 'I will always be a fan of Birmingham'|date=29 November 2017|access-date=14 July 2021}} He later earned an M.S. degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.