Canton High School graduate, a retired U.S. Army colonel, named deputy director of federal office

WASHINGTON − U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern recently named Brian Pearl, a native of Canton, Mo., as the agency’s deputy director.

Pearl graduated from Canton R-V High School. He will serve in the agency’s second highest-ranking position as its chief operating officer. In addition to other responsibilities, Pearl will oversee GPO’s operations division, which includes plant operations, security and intelligent documents, official journals of government and customer services. These business units are responsible for GPO’s most important products including the U.S. passport, Congressional Record, Federal Register, White House print materials, secure federal credentials and other congressional and executive branch products and services.

“Brian brings to GPO a wealth of operations leadership, strategic planning and personnel management experience from his years in the U.S. Army,” Halpern said. “I’m confident in Brian’s ability to lead our operations in line with our values, mission and vision and look forward to working with him.”

Pearl retired from the United States Army as a colonel after 30 years of service in 2020. He previously served as director for policy and plans at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). He led strategic planning and foreign engagement for DPAA, which investigates, recovers and identifies missing service members from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. 

During his military service, Pearl served in various combat and operational assignments outside the United States, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (twice) as both a battalion and brigade commander leading soldiers in those efforts. He has collaborated with high-level officials in foreign countries and in the United States to achieve objectives and develop partnerships and has managed budgets of more than $70 million. He also served as special assistant and action officer to the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pearl has achieved numerous honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.

Pearl earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Missouri State University, a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the National War College.

GPO is the federal government’s resource for publishing trusted information for the federal government to the American people. For more information, visit www.gpo.gov.