William J. Boarman Becomes Public Printer

Washington, D.C. —William J. “Bill” Boarman has been sworn in as the 26^th Public Printer of the United States.  President Barack Obama announced his appointment on December 29, 2010.  Boarman will serve as the Chief Executive Officer and lead more than 2,300 employees at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).  The historic agency was created by Congress 150 years ago and opened its doors on March 4, 1861.  Through war and peace, boom and bust, the men and women of GPO have produced and distributed the official documents of our nation for the past century and a half.  Boarman, who started his career nearly 40 years ago at GPO printing some of those historic documents, returns as the agency’s leader. 

"I am honored and humbled by the confidence the President has placed in me to lead this historic agency," said Public Printer Bill Boarman.  "This is a homecoming of sorts, as I began my career at GPO in the 1970s.   For 150 years GPO has been serving the information needs of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public.  I look forward to serving as Public Printer and working with GPO’s talented group of men and women in continuing and improving on that legacy of service."

"Bill Boarman is a tremendous selection for Public Printer," said House Administration Committee Chairman Robert A. Brady. "His extensive experience in the printing industry as well as his active leadership in and long term involvement with the Communications Workers of America, make him uniquely qualified to fulfill this role.  Bill's integrity and industry knowledge, as well as his strong focus on the importance of a strong, supported workforce will be an important asset.” 

During his confirmation hearing, Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Charles E. Schumer said, “we are fortunate to have a nominee of Mr. Boarman’s caliber and experience in this important post.”  House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said, “I think the Administration has made an excellent choice for Public Printer,” and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski said, “William Boarman is uniquely qualified to run the Government Printing Office.”  American Association of Law Libraries President Catherine Lemann said, “we are confident he will also bring a new spirit and visibility to the agency and to all its stakeholders, including federal depository libraries.”

Bill Boarman is a resident of Severna Park, MD and recently served as President of the Printing, Publishing & Media Workers Sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and Vice President of CWA. He has been associated with the printing industry, its labor relations and personnel management for over 40 years starting with his four-year apprenticeship at McArdle Printing in Washington, D.C., succeeding to Journeyman Printer (Practical Printer by Trade) in 1971. In 1974, Bill accepted an appointment as Printer to GPO. In 1977, Bill took a leave of absence from GPO to serve in various elected posts within the International Typographical Union, which merged with CWA in 1987.  Bill has been a trusted advisor to several Public Printers and has testified on GPO before Congress numerous times over the past 30 years. He served as chairman of the CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan, a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan with assets of $1 billion; President of the International Allied Printing Trades Association; and President of the Union Printers Home, a 122-bed skilled nursing facility in Colorado Springs, CO. Bill served three terms as co-chair of the Council of Institutional Investors (CII) and as the first-ever public member of the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities.

GPO is the Federal Government’s primary centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving published U.S. Government information in all its forms. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government. In addition to publication sales, GPO makes Government information available at no cost to the public through GPO’s Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov.  Follow GPO on Twitter http://twitter.com/USGPO and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/gpoprinter.