Dr. Soper was born in Gunnison, Colorado on July 25, 1938.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1959, a Master of Science degree in Physics in 1962 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics in 1964 all from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

He began his Federal career with the Department of Defense in 1964.  He retired from Federal Service as an SES-6 in 1997.  During his 34 years of service, he held senior positions in the Defense Nuclear Agency (now the Defense Threat Reduction Agency), the Defense Communications Agency (now the Defense Information Systems Agency), the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Communications, Command, Control and Intelligence (ASD (C3I)) and served as the Principal Deputy to the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs (ATSD (NCB)).  His career has concentrated on the effects of nuclear weapons on military systems and nuclear command and control.

Dr. Soper served on numerous high-level Defense Department Committees and Task Forces and was a member of the US Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group.  He served as a Commissioner on the Congressional Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack.  His awards include the Presidential Distinguished and Meritorious Rank Awards, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civil Service and he holds the grade of Officer in the Order of the Legion of Honor from the Government of France.  He was named an EMP Fellow, Summa Foundation.

Since 1997, Dr. Soper has worked for the Defense Group, Inc., and is an officer of the company.  He remains involved in many classified compartmented projects dealing with national security.