About Us

COG is the one place in metropolitan Washington that regularly brings leaders together to develop solutions to the region's major challenges. COG prepares plans enabling the region to receive federal funding, provides members with research and data to inform decision-making, and offers a wide range of programs, including commuter services, cooperative purchasing, technical assistance and grants, and public outreach campaigns.

Transportation

Through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), area officials, planners, and engineers ensure a well-managed and maintained transportation system. The TPB, which is staffed by COG, conducts the federally mandated transportation planning process for the region and ensures the uninterrupted flow of federal transportation funds that area jurisdictions receive.

Environment

COG's work engages leaders in various environmental fields from water quality experts to climate scientists. Together, they are advancing regional efforts to restore local waterways, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, promote recycling, and enhance and preserve green space and agriculture.

Community

Area officials and experts, including planning and housing directors and child welfare and health officials, work together with their counterparts at COG to help shape stronger communities throughout the region.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together as part of its work to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.

Public Safety Chaplains

The COG Public Safety Chaplains Committee is an interdenominational group of chaplains, duly authorized by their jurisdiction’s Police or Fire Chief, who provide religious support and services to fire and police personnel; provide religious services, rites, sacraments, ordinances, and ministrations for all support units; support critical incident stress management functions; and provide any other logistical needs as requested by command staff. To be on this committee, an individual must meet the following criteria:

Appointment by the Chief or designated official as chaplain representing an assisting or cooperating public safety agency.
Training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Familiarity with emergency response standard operating procedures
Participation in public safety/mass casualty regional training drills
Training in Critical Incident Stress Management
Other training as recommended by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Public Safety Chaplains Subcommittee and the COG Fire Chiefs and Police Chiefs Committee.

All MWCOG Chaplains are certified in at least one of the following disciplines:

Basic, Senior or Master Level Training Credentials from the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC)
Certificate of Basic or Advanced Fire Chaplaincy from the Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC)
Basic or Advanced Level Certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) or CISM Resiliency Training.
Basic or Advanced Level Certification in Pastoral Crisis Intervention (PCM)
Certification in Training in Mass Casualty Incidents/Fatality Response.
These individuals participate in ongoing training opportunities related to incident command, critical incident stress management, and other critical topics.