Chuck Bean, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), today shared with his Board of Directors and staff that he will be concluding his time leading the regional planning organization in February after more than 10 years.
COG Board Chair Christian Dorsey said, "On behalf of the board, I thank Chuck for his exemplary service and leadership to COG and our entire region. His positive energy, political skills, and big picture perspective has helped bolster COG’s reputation as the hub for partnership where we build consensus, set goals, and take action to shape a better metropolitan Washington region.”
The COG Board of Directors will oversee the process for choosing Bean’s successor. The board plans to retain an executive search firm to conduct a nationwide search to identify candidates with the combination of skills and experience to lead 125 staff members serving 24 local governments and a membership of more than 300 area elected officials.
“I am very appreciative of everyone in COG’s network—the elected officials, city and county managers, transportation and environmental planners, housing directors, police and fire chiefs, and chief equity officers at our local governments—and, of course, our talented staff of subject matter experts and administrative professionals,” said Bean, who will be exploring new career and volunteer opportunities next year. “The plans we’ve made and the actions we’ve taken together at the Council of Governments have put our region on a more prosperous, accessible, livable, and sustainable path. Now, it’s time to make space for new ideas and leadership, so we can build on our recent accomplishments and continue to make our region a place where everyone can live and thrive.”
Bean, COG’s fifth chief executive in its 65-year history, began his tenure at the Council of Governments in December 2012. Prior to COG, he held multiple leadership positions in the government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, including as President of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington and the Director of the Community Capacity Fund. As COG Executive Director, Bean played a role in the organization’s accomplishments, such as:
- Unified planning priorities - In 2022, COG released Region United: Metropolitan Washington Planning Framework for 2030, which communicates interconnected housing, climate, transit, and equity priorities for the next decade and highlights COG grants, planning tools, and other resources available to advance these shared regional goals.
- Housing - In 2019, the COG Board adopted three regional targets to increase the amount, accessibility, and affordability of housing. In 2022, COG awarded new grants, backed by the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, to support affordable housing projects near transit.
- Climate change - In 2020 and 2022 respectively, the COG Board and the Transportation Planning Board at COG approved regional greenhouse gas reduction goals for 2030. COG is also commencing an electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plan with its members.
- Equity – In 2021, the COG Board endorsed Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAs), locations with high concentrations of traditionally underserved communities, as a key concept to inform future planning and investments. COG also developed racial equity trainings for members and staff.
- Metro funding– COG supported the multi-year, regional effort resulting in the 2018 dedicated funding agreement.
- Metro safety – COG helped the states establish the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the transit system’s independent safety oversight body.
- Amazon HQ2 – COG provided officials in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with data supporting their bids and coordinated joint letters and messaging to help the region win HQ2.
Founded in 1957, the Council of Governments is an independent, nonprofit association of 24 local governments that brings together area leaders from the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia to address regional issues, like transportation, the environment, housing, and public safety, and plan for the future. With a budget of $49 million, COG is supported by financial contributions from its member governments, federal and state grants and contracts, and donations from foundations and the private sector.