The Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System is guided by a Steering Committee of county agency leadership from the five MDERS-supported stakeholder disciplines. Ten members serve as the primary representative for their agency, with an alternate capable of assuming their role if they are unavailable. In addition to these agencies, the Steering Committee has non-voting, ex-officio members who provide invaluable input on regional homeland security issues.

The Steering Committee representatives collaborate with MDERS to determine programmatic resource allocation, training priorities, equipment acquisition, and fiscal outlays for each annual grant cycle.

A chair and vice chair assume immense responsibility to establish agendas, preserve decorum, regulate debate according to parliamentary procedure, and supervise the general functioning of this body.

The current chair is Assistant Chief Tracy McDonald, and the current vice chair is Lieutenant Nicholas Fiore.