The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is pleased to announce that it has selected Thomas Gates as its Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Programs.

Gates, an executive with extensive experience in local government, will oversee COG’s Department of Environmental Programs, Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety, Office of Finance and Accounting, and Office of Information Technology. He began his new position today, January 6.

“Tom’s leadership in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere—as a county administrator, city manager, chief of staff, and budget director—has provided him with robust experience in a variety of issues faced by local government officials,” said Chuck Bean, COG Executive Director. “After a competitive and thorough search, we found a leader skilled in organizational agenda-setting and policy implementation, and I know he will help ensure that COG maintains and enhances our services to member governments and our reputation as the hub for regional partnership, expertise, and problem-solving.”

Gates was most recently the County Administrator in Roanoke County, Virginia where he oversaw the development of the jurisdiction’s first comprehensive strategic plan as well as improvements to its budget process. He has also served in a variety of executive and senior budget positions for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Spartansburg County, South Carolina, the City of Greenville, South Carolina, Garden City, Georgia, Loris, South Carolina, and Montgomery County, Maryland. In his new position at COG, Gates will oversee programs that support clean air and water, the annual allocation of more than $50 million in federal homeland security funding, and a cooperative purchasing program that saves governments millions of dollars annually through volume buying of commodities like fuel and public safety equipment.

Gates holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, jointly awarded by the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. He has served as adjunct faculty for the University of South Carolina Upstate where he taught public administration and public financial administration, and he is an International City/County Manager’s Association Credentialed Manager.

Gates will succeed Stuart Freudberg, who is retiring in February after 40 years at COG. Gates joins Bean and Deputy Executive Director for Metropolitan Planning Kanti Srikanth on COG’s Executive Management Team.

Founded in 1957, COG is an association of 24 local governments with a professional staff of 130 employees. In recent years, COG has focused on preparing the region for future growth by developing regional housing targets, helping forge consensus on dedicated funding for Metro, and supporting efforts to reduce air and water pollution and combat climate change.