In the past few months, COG has welcomed new members and announced new roles to its senior leadership team.
“We are excited to have these leaders join and start in new roles at COG,” said Executive Director Chuck Bean. “They will help position COG to address the challenges of the next decade that impact our region.”
Thomas Gates is the new Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Programs.
Gates, an executive with extensive experience in local government, will provide strategic leadership of COG’s Department of Environmental Programs, Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety, Office of Finance and Accounting, and Office of Information Technology.
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. 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 will succeed former Deputy Executive Director Stuart Freudberg, who is retiring in February after 40 years at COG.
Kanti Srikanth is the new Deputy Executive Director for Metropolitan Planning.
The position of Deputy Executive Director for Metropolitan Planning was created to continue increasing COG’s regional impact and enhance alignment on agency-wide priorities.
Since 2014, Srikanth has served as COG’s Transportation Planning Director supporting members of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and overseeing COG’s largest staffed department. Through his leadership with the TPB, Srikanth supported recent regional achievements, such as adopting the new transportation plan for the region – Visualize 2045, establishing the Metrorail Safety Commission, and securing dedicated funding for Metro.
In his new role, Srikanth is tasked with advancing the aspirational targets set forth in Visualize 2045 and establishing more integrated metropolitan planning.
Julie Mussog is the new Chief Financial Officer.
Mussog has extensive experience in positions both highly technical as well as in leadership and management of finance departments and agencies.
Recently, Mussog served as the President & CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, as well as a Senior Vice-President at MuniCap, Inc., where she focused on public-private partnerships between local governments and the private sector to support development of public infrastructure.
As COG Chief Financial Officer, Mussog will oversee all financial functions, work with grantor agencies, and support elected officials.