Vance-Cooks Confirmed as Public Printer

After serving as Acting Public Printer for the past 19 months, Davita Vance-Cooks can finally drop “Acting” from her title. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her as the 27th U.S. Public Printer, the first African-American—and the first woman—ever to lead the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). She was officially sworn into office on August 21 by Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, with John Crawford, a GPO employee since 1966, acting as master of ceremonies.

With more than 30 years of private sector and government experience, Vance-Cooks has served as the Acting Public Printer since January 3, 2012, the day previous Public Printer Bill Boarman was forced to step down when the Senate failed to confirm his recess appointment. The previous month he had appointed Vance-Cooks to the role of Deputy Public Printer.

President Barack Obama nominated Vance-Cooks as Public Printer on May 9. Her confirmation hearing was held June 12 before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The Committee reported her nomination favorably to the full Senate on July 24.

“I believe that change brings opportunities, and the future as represented by the digital world brings unlimited possibilities,” she said at her swearing-in ceremony. She called her move into the Public Printer’s role “a blessing that I do not take for granted because I know that to whom much is given, much is expected. I willingly give to GPO all that is required of me to ensure its continued success.”