Walter A. Scheiber served as the first Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the leader responsible for developing the programs and significant regional influence that mark the organization.
Scheiber led COG for 25 years from 1966 to 1991 bringing together the area’s elected officials to work on the cleanup of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, the allocation of federal housing funds, mutual aid, and countless other regional issues. His efforts helped convince Congress to support the construction of the Metro transit system.
Scheiber was at the national forefront in the field of regionalism and an expert on inter-governmental relations. He was instrumental in the founding of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) and was very active with the International City and County Management Association (ICMA), including serving as its President. It was his vision that made possible the building COG co-owns with ICMA and ICMA Retirement Corporation at 777 North Capitol, and the building’s COG Board Room bears his name.