Nicholas J. Roper, P.E., has more than 43 years of engineering experience in the military, private, and public sectors.   Nick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute in 1982, and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Virginia in 1996.  After serving in the military and then working for several consultants, he joined VDOT’s Northern Virginia District in 2001.  Over the next 24 years with VDOT he served in progressively responsible positions, first as the District Structure and Bridge Engineer, then as the Assistant District Engineer for Project Development, and finally as the Deputy District Engineer providing executive leadership and oversight to the District’s $5-$6 billion Construction program and its $3 billion Mega Project program before his retirement from VDOT in January 2026.  Nick also served in the US Army and he retired as a Colonel following 28 years of service on active duty and in the reserves, including deployments to Kosovo and Iraq where he earned the Combat Action Badge and two Bronze Stars. He resides in Occoquan, Virginia.