Council of Governors - National Governors Association

The Council consists of ten governors appointed to two-year terms by the President – five from each party – with two governors serving as co-chairs. The Executive Order specifically names a number of federal participants in the Council, including the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, the President’s Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, among others.

To ensure that the Council appropriately represents all governors, the Council co-chairs, through the National Governors Association, share documents for review and discussion with all governors’ offices prior to their approval by the Council.

Key Issues: Support the National Guard and Military Families, Improve Catastrophic Disaster Response and Recovery, Build Cybersecurity Partnerships and Resilience, and Inform Federal Budgetary Considerations.

Activities

Recommendations and Best Practices for Collaboration with the Council of Governors

(12 Feb 2021) This memo contains a summary for President Biden and the Administration on best practices and recommendations for working with the presidentially appointed Council of Governors (Council). To: ...

(19 Jan 2021) This memo contains a summary of the presidentially appointed Council of Governors work over the past two years. To: President Donald J. Trump and the Trump AdministrationFrom: ...

(6 May 2020) Governors across the country are working diligently and rapidly to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. As each state and territory looks towards reopening, we believe it is ...

(19 March 2020) We appreciate your consideration of this important issue and ask you to consider the use of Title 32 to respond to this National Emergency. The Honorable Mark ...

(3 March 2020) We call on you to reverse the reallocation of critical National Guard accounts, which are vital to both domestic and overseas missions, and as commanders-in-chief of our ...

(19 Jan 2021) To ensure optimal strength and readiness that would both benefit our states and our nation, the Council requests that you ensure adequate funding in future budgets to ...

Council of Governors Letters: 2010-2019

Archived Letters from the Council of Governors: 2010 to 2019 2019 Council Letter on Duty Status ReformCouncil Letter Welcoming Defense Secretary EsperCouncil Letter on Council Administration and 502f PolicyCo-Chair Letter ...

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Resources

Founding Documents

Council Materials

Additional Resources

Council Members

Gov. Tim Walz (Minnesota)
Co-Chair

Gov. Phil Scott (Vermont)
Co-Chair

Gov. Eric Holcomb (Indiana)

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
(New Mexico)

**Gov. Henry McMaster (South Carolina)**

NGA Staff

Jessica Davenport, Program Director, Homeland Security, Center for Best Practices
Renee Antoine, Legislative Director, Government Relations

2010 Membership

Vermont Governor James H. Douglas, Co-Chair
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, Co-Chair

Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer
Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell
Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
North Carolina Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
South Dakota Governor M. Michael Rounds

2011 Membership

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Co-Chair
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, Co-Chair

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie
Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer
Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead
Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
North Carolina Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue

2012 Membership

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Co-Chair
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, Co-Chair

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie
Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer
Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño
Delaware Governor Jack Markell
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead
Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley

2013 Membership

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Co-Chair
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Co-Chair

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie
Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
Delaware Governor Jack Markell Virginia
Governor Robert F. McDonnell
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead
Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval

2014 Membership

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Co-Chair
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Co-Chair

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer
Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead

2015 Membership

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Co-Chair
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Co-Chair

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
Montana Governor Steve Bullock
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead
Virginia Terry Governor McAuliffe

2017 Membership

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Co-Chair
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Co-Chair

Alaska Governor Bill Walker
Florida Governor Rick Scott
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens
Montana Governor Steve Bullock
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam

2018 Membership