diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7bb71a0..e1190fa 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -92,3 +92,4 @@ logs/
 *.tmp
 *.temp
 /.claude
+/API/ROLAC.API/bin-verify
diff --git a/API/ROLAC.API/Program.cs b/API/ROLAC.API/Program.cs
index ba966ba..6651f8f 100644
--- a/API/ROLAC.API/Program.cs
+++ b/API/ROLAC.API/Program.cs
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ builder.Services.AddDbContext<AppDbContext>((sp, opt) =>
        .AddInterceptors(sp.GetRequiredService<AuditSaveChangesInterceptor>()));
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Identity
+// Identity (API-only — no cookie auth; JWT is the default scheme)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 builder.Services
-    .AddIdentity<AppUser, AppRole>(opt =>
+    .AddIdentityCore<AppUser>(opt =>
     {
         opt.Password.RequiredLength         = 8;
         opt.Password.RequireDigit           = true;
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ builder.Services
         opt.Password.RequireLowercase       = true;
         opt.Password.RequireNonAlphanumeric = true;
         opt.User.RequireUniqueEmail         = true;
-        opt.SignIn.RequireConfirmedAccount  = false;
     })
+    .AddRoles<AppRole>()
     .AddEntityFrameworkStores<AppDbContext>()
     .AddDefaultTokenProviders();
 
@@ -44,11 +44,7 @@ var jwtKey = config["Jwt:SecretKey"]
     ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Jwt:SecretKey is not configured.");
 
 builder.Services
-    .AddAuthentication(opt =>
-    {
-        opt.DefaultAuthenticateScheme = JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
-        opt.DefaultChallengeScheme    = JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
-    })
+    .AddAuthentication(JwtBearerDefaults.AuthenticationScheme)
     .AddJwtBearer(opt =>
     {
         opt.TokenValidationParameters = new TokenValidationParameters
diff --git a/APP/src/app/app.config.ts b/APP/src/app/app.config.ts
index 8ecee26..428bd7c 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/app.config.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/app.config.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
-import { ApplicationConfig } from '@angular/core';
+import { ApplicationConfig, APP_INITIALIZER } from '@angular/core';
 import { provideRouter } from '@angular/router';
 import { provideAnimations } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
 import { provideHttpClient, withInterceptors } from '@angular/common/http';
 
 import { routes } from './app.routes';
 import { authInterceptor } from './core/interceptors/auth.interceptor';
+import { AuthService } from './shared/services/auth.service';
 
 export const appConfig: ApplicationConfig = {
   providers: [
     provideRouter(routes),
     provideAnimations(),
-    provideHttpClient(withInterceptors([authInterceptor]))
+    provideHttpClient(withInterceptors([authInterceptor])),
+    {
+      provide: APP_INITIALIZER,
+      useFactory: (authService: AuthService) => () => authService.initializeFromRefreshToken(),
+      deps: [AuthService],
+      multi: true,
+    },
   ]
 };
-
diff --git a/APP/src/app/app.routes.ts b/APP/src/app/app.routes.ts
index 5e21e57..2b02596 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/app.routes.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/app.routes.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { DashboardComponent } from './portals/user-portal/pages/dashboard/dashbo
 import { LoginPage } from './features/login-page/login-page';
 import { UserPortalComponent } from './portals/user-portal/user-portal.component';
 import { AuthGuard } from './core/guards/auth.guard';
+import { RoleGuard } from './core/guards/role.guard';
 import { MembersPageComponent } from './features/members/pages/members-page/members-page.component';
 import { UsersPageComponent } from './features/users/pages/users-page/users-page.component';
 
@@ -19,7 +20,12 @@ export const routes: Routes = [
             { path: '',                  redirectTo: 'dashboard', pathMatch: 'full' },
             { path: 'dashboard',         component: DashboardComponent   },
             { path: 'admin/members',     component: MembersPageComponent },
-            { path: 'admin/users',       component: UsersPageComponent   },
+            {
+                path: 'admin/users',
+                component: UsersPageComponent,
+                canActivate: [RoleGuard],
+                data: { roles: ['super_admin'] },
+            },
         ]
     },
 
diff --git a/APP/src/app/core/guards/auth.guard.ts b/APP/src/app/core/guards/auth.guard.ts
index dd00e22..c4116c4 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/core/guards/auth.guard.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/core/guards/auth.guard.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
 import { CanActivate, Router, ActivatedRouteSnapshot, RouterStateSnapshot } from '@angular/router';
-import { Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
-import { map, catchError } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+import { map } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { AuthService } from '../../shared/services/auth.service';
 
 @Injectable({
@@ -14,19 +14,19 @@ export class AuthGuard implements CanActivate {
     ) { }
 
     canActivate(
-        route: ActivatedRouteSnapshot,
+        _route: ActivatedRouteSnapshot,
         state: RouterStateSnapshot
     ): Observable<boolean> | Promise<boolean> | boolean {
-        // Check if user is authenticated
-        if (this.authService.isAuthenticated()) {
-            return true;
-        }
+        return this.authService.whenSessionReady().pipe(
+            map(() => {
+                if (this.authService.isAuthenticated()) {
+                    return true;
+                }
 
-        // Store the attempted URL for redirecting after login
-        this.authService.setRedirectUrl(state.url);
-
-        // Redirect to login page
-        this.router.navigate(['/login']);
-        return false;
+                this.authService.setRedirectUrl(state.url);
+                this.router.navigate(['/login']);
+                return false;
+            })
+        );
     }
 }
diff --git a/APP/src/app/core/guards/role.guard.ts b/APP/src/app/core/guards/role.guard.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e288e92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/APP/src/app/core/guards/role.guard.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { CanActivate, ActivatedRouteSnapshot, Router } from '@angular/router';
+import { AuthService } from '../../shared/services/auth.service';
+
+@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
+export class RoleGuard implements CanActivate {
+    constructor(
+        private authService: AuthService,
+        private router: Router
+    ) { }
+
+    canActivate(route: ActivatedRouteSnapshot): boolean {
+        const requiredRoles = route.data['roles'] as string[] | undefined;
+        if (!requiredRoles?.length) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        const user = this.authService.getCurrentUser();
+        const allowed = user?.roles?.some(r => requiredRoles.includes(r)) ?? false;
+
+        if (!allowed) {
+            this.router.navigate(['/user-portal/dashboard']);
+        }
+
+        return allowed;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/APP/src/app/core/interceptors/auth.interceptor.ts b/APP/src/app/core/interceptors/auth.interceptor.ts
index 9fe78cd..5f1ee3a 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/core/interceptors/auth.interceptor.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/core/interceptors/auth.interceptor.ts
@@ -1,60 +1,75 @@
-import { HttpInterceptorFn, HttpErrorResponse } from '@angular/common/http';
+import { HttpInterceptorFn, HttpErrorResponse, HttpRequest } from '@angular/common/http';
 import { inject } from '@angular/core';
-import { catchError, throwError } from 'rxjs';
+import { catchError, switchMap, throwError } from 'rxjs';
 import { AuthService } from '../../shared/services/auth.service';
 import { Router } from '@angular/router';
 import { ApiConfigService } from '../services/api-config.service';
 
-export const authInterceptor: HttpInterceptorFn = (request, next) => {
+/**
+ * Attaches Bearer tokens to ROLAC API calls and silently refreshes on 401.
+ */
+export const authInterceptor: HttpInterceptorFn = (req, next) => {
     const authService = inject(AuthService);
-    const apiConfigService = inject(ApiConfigService);
-    const router = inject(Router);
+    const apiConfig   = inject(ApiConfigService);
+    const router      = inject(Router);
 
-    // Get the current user and token
-    const token = authService.getToken();
+    const request = attachToken(req, authService, apiConfig);
 
-    // Clone the request and add the Authorization header if token exists
-    if (token && shouldAddToken(apiConfigService, request)) {
-        request = request.clone({
-            setHeaders: {
-                Authorization: `Bearer ${token}`
-            }
-        });
-    }
-
-    // Handle the request and catch 401 errors
     return next(request).pipe(
         catchError((error: HttpErrorResponse) => {
+            if (
+                error.status === 401 &&
+                !req.headers.has('X-Retry') &&
+                !isPublicAuthRequest(req, apiConfig)
+            ) {
+                return authService.refresh().pipe(
+                    switchMap(success => {
+                        if (success) {
+                            const retryReq = attachToken(
+                                req.clone({ setHeaders: { 'X-Retry': 'true' } }),
+                                authService,
+                                apiConfig
+                            );
+                            return next(retryReq);
+                        }
+                        authService.logout();
+                        router.navigate(['/login']);
+                        return throwError(() => error);
+                    })
+                );
+            }
+
             if (error.status === 401) {
-                // Token is invalid or expired, logout user
                 authService.logout();
                 router.navigate(['/login']);
             }
+
             return throwError(() => error);
         })
     );
 };
 
-/**
- * Determine if the token should be added to this request
- * Skip adding token to login requests and other public endpoints
- */
-function shouldAddToken(apiConfigService: ApiConfigService, request: any): boolean {
-    // Don't add token to outbound requests to other domains
-    if (!request.url.startsWith(apiConfigService.getBaseUrl())) {
-        return false;
+function attachToken(
+    req: HttpRequest<unknown>,
+    authService: AuthService,
+    apiConfig: ApiConfigService
+): HttpRequest<unknown> {
+    const token = authService.getToken();
+    if (!token || !shouldAddToken(apiConfig, req)) {
+        return req;
     }
-
-    // Don't add token to login requests
-    if (request.url.includes('/Auth/login') || request.url.includes('/Token/Create')) {
-        return false;
-    }
-    // Don't add token to public endpoints (you can customize this list)
-    const publicEndpoints = [
-        '/Auth/register',
-        '/Auth/forgot-password',
-        '/Auth/reset-password'
-    ];
-
-    return !publicEndpoints.some(endpoint => request.url.includes(endpoint));
+    return req.clone({ setHeaders: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } });
+}
+
+const PUBLIC_AUTH_PATHS = ['/auth/login', '/auth/refresh', '/auth/logout'];
+
+function isPublicAuthRequest(req: HttpRequest<unknown>, apiConfig: ApiConfigService): boolean {
+    if (!req.url.startsWith(apiConfig.getBaseUrl())) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return PUBLIC_AUTH_PATHS.some(path => req.url.toLowerCase().includes(path));
+}
+
+function shouldAddToken(apiConfig: ApiConfigService, req: HttpRequest<unknown>): boolean {
+    return !isPublicAuthRequest(req, apiConfig);
 }
diff --git a/APP/src/app/core/services/api-config.service.ts b/APP/src/app/core/services/api-config.service.ts
index f2cd637..bda64d4 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/core/services/api-config.service.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/core/services/api-config.service.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export class ApiConfigService {
      * Get specific API endpoints
      */
     get authUrl(): string {
-        return this.getApiUrl('Auth');
+        return this.getApiUrl('auth');
     }
 
     get tokenUrl(): string {
diff --git a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.html b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.html
index 6e9173e..01f88c7 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.html
+++ b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.html
@@ -36,14 +36,20 @@
                         </button>
                     </div>
 
-                    <!-- Administration (role-guarded) -->
-                    <div class="nav-section" *ngIf="showAdminSection">
+                    <div class="nav-section" *ngIf="showMemberAdminSection || showUserAdminSection">
                         <h4>Administration</h4>
-                        <button *ngFor="let item of adminNavItems" kendoButton
+                        <button *ngFor="let item of memberAdminNavItems" kendoButton
                             [fillMode]="item.active ? 'solid' : 'flat'" [themeColor]="item.active ? 'primary' : 'base'"
                             [svgIcon]="item.icon" class="nav-button" (click)="navigateTo(item.path)">
                             {{ item.text }}
                         </button>
+                        <ng-container *ngIf="showUserAdminSection">
+                            <button *ngFor="let item of userAdminNavItems" kendoButton
+                                [fillMode]="item.active ? 'solid' : 'flat'" [themeColor]="item.active ? 'primary' : 'base'"
+                                [svgIcon]="item.icon" class="nav-button" (click)="navigateTo(item.path)">
+                                {{ item.text }}
+                            </button>
+                        </ng-container>
                     </div>
                 </nav>
             </div>
diff --git a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.ts b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.ts
index 8bcce27..33f484a 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/components/user-navbar/user-navbar.component.ts
@@ -60,12 +60,16 @@ export class UserNavbarComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     { text: 'Support', icon: this.supportIcon, path: '/user-portal/support' }
   ];
 
-  public adminNavItems: NavItem[] = [
+  public memberAdminNavItems: NavItem[] = [
     { text: 'Members', icon: groupIcon, path: '/user-portal/admin/members' },
-    { text: 'Users',   icon: userIcon,  path: '/user-portal/admin/users'   },
   ];
 
-  public showAdminSection = false;
+  public userAdminNavItems: NavItem[] = [
+    { text: 'User Management', icon: userIcon, path: '/user-portal/admin/users' },
+  ];
+
+  public showMemberAdminSection = false;
+  public showUserAdminSection = false;
 
   private destroy$ = new Subject<void>();
 
@@ -89,9 +93,10 @@ export class UserNavbarComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     // Set initial active state
     this.updateActiveStates(this.router.url);
 
-    // Show Administration section for super_admin or secretary
     this.authService.currentUser$.pipe(takeUntil(this.destroy$)).subscribe(user => {
-      this.showAdminSection = !!user?.roles?.some(r => r === 'super_admin' || r === 'secretary');
+      const roles = user?.roles ?? [];
+      this.showMemberAdminSection = roles.some(r => r === 'super_admin' || r === 'secretary');
+      this.showUserAdminSection   = roles.includes('super_admin');
     });
   }
 
@@ -107,11 +112,13 @@ export class UserNavbarComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
 
   private updateActiveStates(currentUrl: string): void {
     // Reset all active states
-    [...this.mainNavItems, ...this.managementNavItems, ...this.supportNavItems, ...this.adminNavItems]
+    [...this.mainNavItems, ...this.managementNavItems, ...this.supportNavItems,
+     ...this.memberAdminNavItems, ...this.userAdminNavItems]
       .forEach(item => item.active = false);
 
     // Set active state for current route
-    const activeItem = [...this.mainNavItems, ...this.managementNavItems, ...this.supportNavItems, ...this.adminNavItems]
+    const activeItem = [...this.mainNavItems, ...this.managementNavItems, ...this.supportNavItems,
+      ...this.memberAdminNavItems, ...this.userAdminNavItems]
       .find(item => currentUrl.startsWith(item.path));
 
     if (activeItem) {
diff --git a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.html b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.html
index 93f7db9..a521562 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.html
+++ b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.html
@@ -47,6 +47,22 @@
                         <span *ngIf="!sidebarCollapsed">Dashboard</span>
                     </a>
                 </div>
+
+                <div class="nav-section" *ngIf="showAdminSection">
+                    <h4 *ngIf="!sidebarCollapsed">Administration</h4>
+                    <a routerLink="/user-portal/admin/users" routerLinkActive="active" class="nav-item"
+                        (click)="onNavigationClick()">
+                        <div class="nav-icon">
+                            <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
+                                <path d="M16 21v-2a4 4 0 0 0-4-4H6a4 4 0 0 0-4 4v2"></path>
+                                <circle cx="9" cy="7" r="4"></circle>
+                                <path d="M22 21v-2a4 4 0 0 0-3-3.87"></path>
+                                <path d="M16 3.13a4 4 0 0 1 0 7.75"></path>
+                            </svg>
+                        </div>
+                        <span *ngIf="!sidebarCollapsed">User Management</span>
+                    </a>
+                </div>
             </nav>
 
             <div class="sidebar-footer" *ngIf="!sidebarCollapsed">
diff --git a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.ts b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.ts
index a5fec33..c25722e 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/portals/user-portal/user-portal.component.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export class UserPortalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   isMobile = false;
   currentUser: UserInfo | null = null;
   currentPageTitle = 'Dashboard';
+  showAdminSection = false;
   unreadMessages = 3;
   unreadNotifications = 2;
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ export class UserPortalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
       .pipe(takeUntil(this.destroy$))
       .subscribe(user => {
         this.currentUser = user;
+        this.showAdminSection = !!user?.roles?.includes('super_admin');
       });
   }
 
@@ -76,6 +78,8 @@ export class UserPortalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
       .subscribe(() => {
         this.updatePageTitle();
       });
+
+    this.updatePageTitle();
   }
 
   private updatePageTitle(): void {
diff --git a/APP/src/app/shared/services/auth.service.ts b/APP/src/app/shared/services/auth.service.ts
index a8b7c70..bc3386a 100644
--- a/APP/src/app/shared/services/auth.service.ts
+++ b/APP/src/app/shared/services/auth.service.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
 import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';
 import { BehaviorSubject, Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
-import { catchError, map, tap } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { catchError, filter, finalize, map, shareReplay, take, tap } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { ApiConfigService } from '../../core/services/api-config.service';
 
 // ── Public interfaces ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ export class AuthService {
     /** Observable stream of the current user (null = not authenticated). */
     public currentUser = this.currentUser$.asObservable();
 
+    private readonly sessionReady$ = new BehaviorSubject(false);
+    private refreshInFlight$: Observable<boolean> | null = null;
     private redirectUrl = '/dashboard';
 
     constructor(
@@ -118,18 +120,25 @@ export class AuthService {
      * Never throws.
      */
     refresh(): Observable<boolean> {
-        return this.http.post<ApiLoginResponse>(
-            `${this.apiConfig.authUrl}/refresh`,
-            {},
-            { withCredentials: true }
-        ).pipe(
-            tap(response => {
-                this.accessToken$.next(response.accessToken);
-                this.currentUser$.next(response.user);
-            }),
-            map(() => true),
-            catchError(() => of(false))
-        );
+        if (!this.refreshInFlight$) {
+            this.refreshInFlight$ = this.http.post<ApiLoginResponse>(
+                `${this.apiConfig.authUrl}/refresh`,
+                {},
+                { withCredentials: true }
+            ).pipe(
+                tap(response => {
+                    this.accessToken$.next(response.accessToken);
+                    this.currentUser$.next(response.user);
+                }),
+                map(() => true),
+                catchError(() => of(false)),
+                finalize(() => {
+                    this.refreshInFlight$ = null;
+                }),
+                shareReplay(1)
+            );
+        }
+        return this.refreshInFlight$;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -155,10 +164,23 @@ export class AuthService {
      */
     initializeFromRefreshToken(): Promise<void> {
         return new Promise(resolve => {
-            this.refresh().subscribe(() => resolve());
+            this.refresh().pipe(
+                finalize(() => {
+                    this.sessionReady$.next(true);
+                    resolve();
+                })
+            ).subscribe();
         });
     }
 
+    /** Resolves once startup session restore has finished (success or failure). */
+    whenSessionReady(): Observable<boolean> {
+        if (this.sessionReady$.value) {
+            return of(true);
+        }
+        return this.sessionReady$.pipe(filter(Boolean), take(1));
+    }
+
     // ── State accessors ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     getToken(): string | null {
@@ -166,7 +188,7 @@ export class AuthService {
     }
 
     isAuthenticated(): boolean {
-        return this.currentUser$.value !== null;
+        return this.currentUser$.value !== null && this.getToken() !== null;
     }
 
     getCurrentUser(): UserInfo | null {