# Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) is an independent, nonprofit association designed to address regional issues confronting Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. It was founded in 1957.
MWCOG comprises 24 local governments in the Washington metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. About 300 local, state, and federally elected officials make up its membership. and formally incorporated on May 28, 1965.

## Functions
### Transportation

MWCOG has provided leadership in supporting the development of transportation facilities in the region, including the Washington Metro subway system and Washington Dulles International Airport.
MWCOG supports the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the metropolitan Washington area. The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board is responsible for ensuring state and federal approval of funding for transportation projects. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board became associated with MWCOG in 1966. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board's data informs officials on subjects like regional travel patterns and highway and transit performance. Recent projects include identifying regional transportation priorities and funding strategies, improving access for people with disabilities, and better coordinating transportation and land use decisions.

### Environment

Through the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee, which is the entity certified by the mayor of Washington, D.C. and the governors of Maryland and Virginia to prepare an air-quality plan for the Washington metropolitan area under the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, officials prepare clean air plans. These plans have led to steady improvement in regional air quality.
MWCOG supports ongoing efforts to revitalize the Chesapeake Bay, the Anacostia River, other local waterways, and wastewater and storm-water planning, and water-supply protection.
MWCOG guides the regional effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by promoting alternative energy sources, energy conservation, and green building and fleet policies.

### Planning and housing

MWCOG's Community Planning and Services program promotes a strong economy, sustainable growth, and housing options for all residents. MWCOG offers strategies for more development in the region's mixed-use activity centers and provides the region with population, employment, and housing forecasts, and data on area industries and labor, affordable housing, and homelessness.
MWCOG regularly measures progress towards the goals of "Region Forward", a long-term sustainability-planning process initiated in 2008.

### Public safety and health

MWCOG's public safety and health program brings together area officials, emergency planners, and first responders to improve homeland security and emergency preparedness.
MWCOG provides regional crime reports and convenes conferences on topics such as preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, gangs, and childhood obesity.

## Member Jurisdictions

| Member | Location | Population |
| Washington, D.C. | District of Columbia | 689,545 |
| Bladensburg, Town of | Maryland | 9,396 |
| Bowie, City of | Maryland | 58,709 |
| Charles County | Maryland | 166,819 |
| College Park, City of | Maryland | 32,123 |
| Frederick, City of | Maryland | 72,824 |
| Frederick County | Maryland | 268,755 |
| Gaithersburg, City of | Maryland | 67,815 |
| Greenbelt, City of | Maryland | 23,200 |
| Hyattsville, City of | Maryland | 18,174 |
| Laurel, City of | Maryland | 25,519 |
| Montgomery County | Maryland | 1,055,110 |
| Prince George's County | Maryland | 908,743 |
| Rockville, City of | Maryland | 68,181 |
| Takoma Park, City of | Maryland | 17,751 |
| Alexandria, City of | Virginia | 160,146 |
| Arlington County | Virginia | 238,476 |
| Fairfax, City of | Virginia | 24,607 |
| Fairfax County | Virginia | 1,145,670 |
| Loudoun County | Virginia | 429,570 |
| Falls Church, City of | Virginia | 14,917 |
| Manassas, City of | Virginia | 41,163 |
| Manassas Park, City of | Virginia | 16,998 |
| Prince William County | Virginia | 478,535 |

## Chairpersons

Council of Governments Board of Directors Chairmen :
| Year(s) | Chairman | Jurisdiction |
| 1957–61 | Robert F. McLaughlin | District of Columbia |
| 1962 | Charles R. Fenwick | Virginia General Assembly (Arlington County) |
| 1962 | Brig. Gen. F. J. Clarke | District of Columbia |
| 1963 | Anne A. Wilkins | Fairfax County |
| 1964 | Roye L. Lowry | Arlington County |
| 1965 | Brig. Gen. C. M. Duke | District of Columbia |
| 1966–67 | Achilles M. Tuchtan | Rockville |
| 1968 | Frederick A. Babson | Fairfax County |
| 1969 | Francis B. Francois | Prince George's County |
| 1970 | Joseph L. Fisher | Arlington County |
| 1971 | Gilbert Hahn Jr. | District of Columbia |
| 1972–73 | Martha V. Pennino | Fairfax County |
| 1974–75 | Sterling Tucker | District of Columbia |
| 1976 | Francis B. Francois | Prince George's County |
| 1977 | Harold L. Miller | Falls Church |
| 1978–79 | Arrington L. Dixon | District of Columbia |
| 1980–81 | Elizabeth L. Scull | Montgomery County |
| 1981–83 | Carl F. Hendrickson | Loudoun County |
| 1984–85 | H. R. Crawford | District of Columbia |
| 1986–87 | Gil Weidenfeld | Greenbelt |
| 1988–89 | Ellen M. Bozman | Arlington County |
| 1990 | Betty Ann Kane | District of Columbia |
| 1991 | James E. Nathanson | District of Columbia |
| 1992–93 | Hilda Pemberton | Prince George's County |
| 1994 | Patricia S. Ticer | Alexandria |
| 1995 | Jack Evans | District of Columbia |
| 1996 | William E. Hanna Jr. | Montgomery County |
| 1997 | Robert B. Dix Jr. | Fairfax County |
| 1998 | Charlene Drew Jarvis | District of Columbia |
| 1999 | M.H. Jim Estepp | Prince George's County |
| 2000 | Gerald E. Connolly | Fairfax County |
| 2001 | Carol Schwartz | District of Columbia |
| 2002 | Bruce R. Williams | Takoma Park |
| 2003 | Mary K. Hill | Prince William County |
| 2005 | Judith F. Davis | Greenbelt |
| 2006 | Jay Fisette | Arlington County |
| 2007 | Vincent C. Gray | District of Columbia |
| 2008 | Michael Knapp | Montgomery County |
| 2009 | Penny Gross | Fairfax County |
| 2010 | Kwame Brown | District of Columbia |
| 2011 | Andrea Harrison | Prince George's County |
| 2012 | Frank Principi | Prince William County |
| 2013 | Karen Young | City of Frederick |
| 2014 | Phil Mendelson | District of Columbia |
| 2015 | William Euille | City of Alexandria |
| 2016 | Roger Berliner | Montgomery County |
| 2017 | Kenyan McDuffie | District of Columbia |
| 2018 | Matt Letourneau | Loudoun County |
| 2019 | Robert White | District of Columbia |
| 2020 | Derrick L. Davis | Prince George's County |
| 2021 | Robert White | District of Columbia |
| 2023 | Kate Stewart | Montgomery County |