COG Board elects Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk as Chair

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors today elected Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk as its Chair for 2025.

Lusk will lead the planning body as it embarks on a new cross-sector collaboration to strengthen metropolitan Washington's economy as area leaders monitor and prepare for potential changes within the federal government, the region's largest employer.

"This is the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family, and I am excited to work with my counterparts here in DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia to make our region even stronger -- bringing to the table our shared and individual challenges as we collaborate on common solutions," Lusk said.

During Lusk's year as Board Chair, COG is planning to coordinate with partners in the private and nonprofit sectors as well as academia to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and get the region designated by the US Department of Commerce as an Economic Development District. In addition, COG is partnering with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) of Race Forward to sponsor a new cohort that will develop strategies and tools to support economic mobility and advance equity in DC area jurisdictions.

In 2025, COG will also conclude the DMVMoves initiative with Metro and area transit providers, which is focused on creating a unified vision and sustainable funding model for the region's transit network. The DMVMoves Task Force overseeing the effort held its first meeting last summer and is working toward developing policy recommendations and a final plan by May 2025.

Lusk has held previous leadership roles at COG, serving as COG Board Vice Chair for the past two years and serving as Chair of COG's Human Services Policy Committee for the past two years. Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins, II and District of Columbia Councilmember Charles Allen were elected as the COG Board's 2025 Vice Chairs.

In addition, the board approved its 2025 Legislative Priorities as well as the leadership for its policy committees: City of Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley as Chair of the COG Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee; Prince William County Supervisor Kenny Boddye as Chair of the COG Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee; Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson as Chair of the COG Food & Agriculture Regional Member Policy Committee; and District of Columbia Councilmember Anita Bonds as Chair of the COG Human Services Policy Committee. The board also welcomed its two newest members - Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis and City of Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

COG is an independent, nonprofit association of 24 local governments in a region that's home to nearly 6 million residents. The Board of Directors is COG's governing body and is responsible for its overall policies, functions, and funds. Board members are appointed each year by the participating local governments and by caucuses of state legislative delegations from the region.