High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state`s National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments, as specified by the Maryland Constitution. Because of the extent of these constitutional powers, the Governor of Maryland has been ranked as being among the most powerful Governors in the United States.