Meet the Inspector General
David T. Harper
Inspector General
David T. Harper has served as Inspector General of the United States Capitol Police (USCP) since February 2024. As Inspector General, he leads the independent office responsible for audits, investigations, inspections, and other oversight of USCP programs and operations, with a mission of promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, integrity, and accountability and preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse.
Mr. Harper has extensive experience in public-sector oversight and investigations, including service as an Inspector General at the federal, state, and municipal levels and a 35-year career with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He currently serves as Acting Vice Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Investigations Committee and as a member of the CIGIE Executive Council.
Prior to joining the USCP, Mr. Harper served as the appointed Inspector General for the Florida Department of Financial Services, where he provided independent oversight of departmental programs and operations, including the Division of Criminal Investigations and Division of Treasury. Before his service in Florida, he was Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he led oversight efforts designed to promote accountability, integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness in city government.
Mr. Harper retired in 2016 following a 35-year federal law enforcement career with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). During his career, he served in investigative, supervisory, and executive leadership positions with a primary focus on fraud, corruption, financial crime, and other complex investigations. He concluded his AFOSI career as Chief of the Economic Crime Desk at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Prior to his federal civilian career, Mr. Harper served nine years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1976 to 1985 as an AFOSI Special Agent and Security Policeman. His assignments included service in West Berlin during the Cold War, where he provided security for a sensitive facility associated with the former 6912th Electronic Security Group at Tempelhof Central Airport, and at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, supporting security of the Minuteman missile system.
Mr. Harper has held numerous professional leadership and volunteer positions within the inspector general, fraud examination, and law enforcement communities. He has served on the National Board of the Association of Inspectors General (AIG), as Vice President and Director of Training for the Tallahassee Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and as a board member of the New Mexico Chapter of ACFE.
Mr. Harper holds a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento. His military and civilian honors include the Army of Occupation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award, and the Criminal Justice Alumni Distinguished Leadership and Service Award from Sacramento State University.