He was a 1991 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

[1] Tapella worked as the campaign manager for the unsuccessful candidacy of Beth Rogers, the Republican nominee for Congress in California's 23rd district in 2002.

President George W. Bush nominated him for the position of Public Printer and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 4, 2007.

[4] On June 12, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Tapella to serve as Director of the United States Government Publishing Office.

[5] On June 24, 2019, this nomination was withdrawn after failing to receive favorable consideration by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.