Robert C. Tapella

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC PRINTER
Public Printer

As the nation’s 25th Public Printer, Tapella serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Government Printing Office, one of the nation’s oldest and most venerable agencies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Tapella oversees production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government. Many of the country’s most important information products, such as the Congressional Record and the Federal Register are produced at GPO’s main plant located five blocks from the U.S. Capitol. This 1.5 million square foot complex is one of the largest information processing, printing and distribution facility in the world.

Biography

President George W. Bush nominated Tapella for the position of Public Printer and he was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 4, 2007. Tapella returned to Government service after a two year stint in the private sector as a strategic communications consultant in 2002 to serve as GPO’s Deputy Chief of Staff. In June 2004, Tapella escalated to the rank of Chief of Staff. He brings to the agency a unique combination of skills that includes extensive legislative experience, and an education and practical business background in graphic communications and printing management.

From 1996 to 2000, Tapella served as a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure Tapella supervised the Office of Member Services for the Committee on House Oversight where he advised members of Congress in interpreting and applying the rules and regulations governing the operation of their congressional office; served as Chief of Staff to a Member; and developed a strategic plan for the Clerk of the House to re-engineer the information technology infrastructures within the legislative process. From 1986 to 1993, Tapella was the District Representative for Congressman Bill Thomas, who later chaired the House Ways and Means Committee.
He managed the Congressman’s interaction with political and public groups in local and state politics.

Tapella also has an extensive background in graphic arts. At the age of 12, he learned the art of calligraphy, illumination and bookbinding. Two years later Tapella became a freelance designer with The New Scribes in San Jose, California.  During his teen years, he worked in the area of menu design, production and first encountered a printing press.  During the 1980’s, Tapella began to build his own design business. His business ventures included work in print brokering, direct mail, corporate communications and strategic planning. 

A California native, Tapella is an alumnus of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and an alumnus of Leadership Sunnyvale’s Class of 1995. He is a 1991 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, one of the country’s leading schools in printing and graphic communications.