COG Board of Directors

COG_Board_and_Policy_Commitee_Chairs_(7)

COG Board Chair Charles Allen (District of Columbia), COG Board Vice Chair Rodney Lusk (Fairfax County), and COG Board Vice Chair Reuben Collins, II (Charles County)

The Board of Directors is the Council of Governments’ governing body and is responsible for its overall policies and the approval of its work program and budget. The board takes action on committee recommendations, discusses current and emerging regional problems, and develops priorities and focus areas for the organization.

Board members are appointed each year by COG’s local governments and representatives from the Maryland and Virginia state legislative delegations. The current board consists of 34 members—the majority are elected officials.

Board meetings are held at noon on the second Wednesday of most months. Meetings are open to the public, and representatives from the media frequently attend.

The following groups serve as the COG Board's policy committees:

Watch our video to learn more about COG, our network of leaders, and our regional planning work and programs.

 

Featured Documents

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  • Letters/Memos

    COG Executive Director's Report

    Oct 2, 2024

    The Executive Director's Report provides the COG Board of Directors with a brief summary of policy board and committee work, outreach efforts, and media highlights. Additionally, the report often features profiles on COG members and staff.

     

  • Publications

    COG Work Program and Budget

    Jun 12, 2024

    COG's Work Program and Budget is transmitted through the COG Board of Directors' Budget and Finance Committee for review and approval or modification by the board. It highlights recent accomplishments and goals, both in summary and by program, offering an overview of the great value of COG's work along with COG's spending plan. 

     

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    Publications

    COG Annual Report

    Mar 26, 2024

    The report underscores COG's commitment to connecting leaders and driving meaningful change by highlighting key programs and initiatives, including rallying regional action on Metro, combatting climate change, advancing housing goals, and providing transportation grants and assistance. 

    Visit the Member Benefits web page for a brochure on COG's programs and services, research and data, cooperative purchasing, professional development opportunities, and more.

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    Other Documents

    Member Benefits

    Feb 7, 2024

    Brochure highlights a variety of benefits to COG's membership of 24 local governments and 300 elected officials as well as partner organizations and the public, including goal setting work, programs and services, research and data, cooperative purchasing, and professional development opportunities.

    Visit the Annual Report web page to review the past year's accomplishments.

  • Publications

    COG Board Member Handbook

    Feb 7, 2024

    The COG Board Member Handbook includes key documents about COG and its governance, including an organizational chart, committee descriptions, media protocol, policy guidelines, and more.

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    Publications

    COG Legislative Priorities

    Jan 10, 2024

    The legislative priorities approved by the COG Board of Directors focus on supporting the region’s transportation funding, housing, water quality, climate and energy innovation, air quality, human services, emergency preparedness, and infrastructure investment.

     

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    Publications

    Region United Framework Document

    Mar 9, 2022

    Report on the COG Board of Directors planning framework for 2030. The framework provides short summaries on the following four priorities: Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAs), High-Capacity Transit Station Areas (HCTs), 2030 Regional Housing Targets, and the 2030 Climate Goal. It also highlights COG grants, technical assistance, planning tools, and other resources  available to its members to advance these shared regional goals.  

    For the latest news, updates, and resources related to the framework, visit the Region United landing page.

  • Other Documents

    COG By-Laws

    Jun 14, 2017

    By-Laws of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Last revision: June 2017.

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    Publications

    Region Forward Vision

    Jan 28, 2010

    Region Forward is COG's vision. It's a commitment by COG and its member governments, who together seek to create a more prosperous, accessible, livable, and sustainable metropolitan Washington. Region Forward includes goals, targets, and the Greater Washington 2050 Compact, a voluntary agreement to motivate area governments and stakeholders to advance the vision. The Region Forward Coalition tracks progress toward meeting these goals and targets and summarizes the results in progress reports. For the latest information on the vision and its goals and targets, visit the Region Forward page.