Larry R. Felix

Larry R. Felix

Larry R. Felix (born 1958) is the Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) develops and produces United States paper currency and is a bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury.

Biography

Larry R. Felix was named as the director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing(BEP) on January 11, 2006. As director, Felix is responsible for the overall operations of the BEP in the production of U.S. currency and other government secured documents.

Mr. Felix first joined the BEP in 1993, and worked in a variety of leadership positions. He also chaired the Inter-agency Currency Design taskforce, a group responsible for recommending technical enhancements to U.S. currency design. Prior to his appointment as director, Felix served as the BEP’s Deputy Director.

Under Felix’s leadership, the BEP completed the design of the next generation of currency series including the next generation $100 note, which was put into circulation on October 8, 2013. The next generation $100 note is the most complex note of any United States currency series to date.

Felix is presently leading the effort to design and produce accessible currency for individuals that are blind and visually impaired. In 2011, the BEP developed a free, downloadable mobile application, EyeNote™, to denominate U.S. currency. This year, currency reader devices will be given to eligible blind and visually impaired individuals.

Because currency designs are becoming more technologically complex, Mr. Felix is implementing a massive retooling/retrofitting operation to transition the organization into a 21st century manufacturing plant. The multi-year retooling plan for both BEP facilities ensures the continuity of operations of essential function in the event of an emergency, while supporting future currency redesigns to deter counterfeiting.

Earlier this year, the BEP began producing $1 notes in a 50-subject sheet format. A larger sheet format gives the BEP the ability to produce more notes with greater efficiency to meet its annual currency order and production demands, while increasing printing capabilities. Printing productivity increases by more than 50 percent, and processing productivity increases by more than 100 percent due to the larger sheet size and the use of newly acquired equipment.

Felix is also leading the organization in a massive update of its quality management system. The organization is making fundamental systemic changes to aggressively realize improvement in its quality system to ensure that products consistently meet or exceed quality standards in a sustainable, customer focused, and cost efficient manner. Under Felix’s leadership, the organization has made significant employee viewpoint score strides in leadership, accountability, recognition, and communications.

Mr. Felix holds degrees from the New York City College of Technology and the City College at the City University of New York. He did doctoral work in Political Economy at Columbia University.