GPO Employee Celebrates 45 Years of Service
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the country's largest in-plant, boasts some loyal employees. One of them, Production Manager John Crawford, just achieved 45 years of service to GPO and the federal government.
GPO reports that Crawford began his career there in 1966 as a journeyperson bookbinder on the night shift. Forty-five years later, Crawford has been promoted seven times and works as production manager overseeing the production of some of America's most important documents, including the President's Budget, The Congressional Record, The Federal Register, The Code of Federal Regulations and legislative bills, hearings and reports. Throughout his years of service, Crawford has worked on secure projects, including the implementation of the electronic passport, and contributed to the agency's transition into the digital age.
One of his first jobs in the late 1960s was producing secure test forms for the U.S. Air Force. Crawford was promoted to his first management position in 1972 and was responsible for coordinating and overseeing the production of President Nixon's inaugural materials. In the 1980s, Crawford led the team to automate the passport binding process, which was previously done by hand. As technology advanced and the GPO's workforce decreased, Crawford worked with GPO management to combine and reorganize plant departments to maintain efficiency and to continue to meet the needs of Congress, federal agencies and the public.
Prior to being named production manager in 2007, Crawford was superintendent of the Binding Division for 14 years. He is one of three generations of Crawfords to work at GPO. Crawford's grandfather worked at GPO in the early 1900s and his son Nick currently works there as a graphic designer.
- Places:
- America