Robert C. Tapella Becomes Public Printer

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate confirmed and President George W. Bush signed the commission to make Robert C. Tapella the nation’s 25th Public Printer. Tapella will lead more than 2,200 employees at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Tapella has been involved in GPO’s transformation into a profitable 21st Century digital operation during the last five years, first as Deputy Chief of Staff and then as Chief of Staff.

“It is a deep honor to become the 25th Public Printer of the United States and lead the talented men and women of GPO as we continue to fulfill our mission to keep America informed,” said Public Printer Robert C. Tapella.

About the Public Printer
The Public Printer serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the venerable United States Government Printing Office (GPO). The GPO’s core mission is Keeping America Informed. The agency provides expert printing, publishing, and digital media services to the three branches of the government. It is a near billion dollar government agency of 2,200 employees which operates like a business – while a portion of its funding comes from direct Congressional appropriation – GPO produces significant revenue by providing products and services to other Federal agencies and the American public.

About GPO
GPO produces the Official Journals of Government including two daily and one weekly “newspapers” recording the words and actions of our government: The Congressional Record, the Federal Register and the Patent and Trademark Official Gazette. GPO provides security and intelligent documents to federal agencies and American citizens, including the United States Passport. This year the passport has gone electronic with the inclusion of a contact less silicon chip capable of storing biometric data to enhance border security. GPO is perhaps the largest print buyer in America, ordering on behalf of federal agencies up to 1,000 printing jobs a day from private sector vendors throughout all fifty states. GPO has a creative services department that assisted in the design of the new passport with intricate security features and is also able to creatively implement the same advanced technological and animation tools utilized by major production studios.