From Summer Intern to General Counsel

Five Questions with GPO General Counsel Kerry Miller

Since first joining the Agency as a summer intern in 1980, Kerry Miller has watched GPO evolve from a much larger, print-driven operation into the modern organization it is today. Along the way, he built a career in the Office of General Counsel and now serves as General Counsel. In this edition of Typeline, Miller reflects on his path to leadership, what has kept him at GPO for so many years, and why teammates should not hesitate to bring legal questions forward.

1. You have been with GPO for 46 years, off and on. How did your journey here begin?

I first became aware of GPO when I was in law school at Catholic University. I used to drive up North Capitol Street, and at 4:30 in the afternoon I would see a wave of people pouring out of those big red brick buildings and sprinting across the street. Back then, GPO had very strict shifts, triggered by the ringing of bells, so this mass movement of people made quite an impression on me.

I started at GPO in 1980 as a summer intern in the Office of General Counsel, stayed on as a staff assistant, and then worked as a law clerk after graduating from law school. After I passed the bar, I was appointed to an attorney position.

2. How did your career progress into leadership?

Initially I started as an entry level attorney handling personnel law matters and moved up over time. For many years, I specialized in procurement law, and later served as a judge on the GPO Board of Contract Appeals. After that, I became the Agency's first Chief Acquisition Officer.

I left GPO for a period to work at the Federal Transit Administration, part of the Department of Transportation, and later returned to GPO as Deputy General Counsel. I served as Acting General Counsel for several years before being appointed General Counsel in 2020.

3. What changes at GPO stand out most to you over the years?

The biggest change is the downsizing of the Agency driven by the digital revolution. When I started, print was the preferred mass communications medium for the federal Government. GPO had around 7,000 employees and we operated printing plants, bookstores and print procurement offices throughout the country. However, when the public's preference shifted to digital, and GPO began making more and more government publications available online, the Agency had to evolve.

What people sometimes do not realize is that GPO was actually on the leading edge of electronic publishing decades ago. We were doing innovative work in electronic typesetting and publishing long before most people were talking about digital transformation.

4. What has kept you at GPO for so long?

Some people might say inertia, but the truth is I have enjoyed working at GPO. I am always seeing new issues, even after 46 years. When I was a young attorney, I got the opportunity to do substantive legal work from day one. I didn't have to sit on the sidelines waiting years to contribute and that is something I always appreciated.

5. What do you want teammates to know about the Office of General Counsel?

I would like them to understand what the Office of General Counsel does, and just as importantly, what we do not do.

We are the attorneys for the Agency, not for individuals. Unfortunately, we can't write you a will or handle your real estate closings, but if anyone has a question involving your job at GPO and there is a legal component to it, don't hesitate to ask us.

The best advice I can give is: bring us into an issue sooner rather than later. There is no formal protocol. You can send me an email or contact any of the attorneys in our office, and we will be glad to take a look and provide our best advice. No charge.

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