Deja Vu: Trump Renominates Tapella as GPO Director
As he did back in June 2018, President Donald J. Trump again sent the nomination of Robert C. Tapella to be the director of the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) to the U.S. Senate, which recently convened as part of the 116th Congress. The renomination was necessary because the Senate failed to confirm Tapella's nomination by the end of 2018.
Tapella previously served as Public Printer (the position's original title) a decade ago when President George W. Bush nominated him in 2007. He spent three years in the position, helping to turn GPO’s financial situation around and overseeing the launch of GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys).
Tapella recently served as professional oversight staff of the Committee on House Administration of the U.S. Congress with expertise in the areas of printing, publishing and security credentialing. He led a review of Title 44 of the U.S. Code, which outlines the role of public printing and publishing of documents in the federal government, as well as the Federal Depository Library Program.
He began his career as calligrapher, illuminator and bookbinder, and later ventured into print brokerage and direct mail businesses. Tapella, a 1991 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in graphic communication, was designated as an honored alumni in 2008 and presently serves as chairman of the Dean’s Council on the library, and is also a member of the graphic communication department advisory board.
