Who We Are
The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is the nonprofit organization designated by Congress to plan, fund, and build the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Leadership
A distinguished Board of Directors comprised of individuals from both military and non-military backgrounds leads the Foundation, with former President George W. Bush serving as the Foundation’s Honorary Chairman.
President and CEO, Michael “Rod” Rodríguez, a former U.S. Army Green Beret medic and sniper who deployed ten times, is the Foundation’s President and CEO. Rod’s involvement with the GWOT Memorial Foundation began in 2016, when he joined the organization as a board member. Rod later led the organization as President and CEO from March 2018 to September 2020 before taking a leave of absence for a personal matter and an overseas deployment. He was re-appointed President and CEO in December 2021.
Rod is a New Mexico native who comes from a family with a strong tradition of military service. Both his grandfathers served during World War II, and his father is a Vietnam veteran. His eldest son is currently serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and has deployed to the same regions of Afghanistan as Rod. Rod has been an outspoken advocate for veterans and their families and often speaks publicly on the need to increase understanding of life experiences between the civilian and military communities.
“This Memorial will honor the multiple generations of Americans and their families who have served and sacrificed around the world to keep our country safe from terrorism since 9/11. As a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, I know there are countless other veterans and their families who are eager for a Memorial that will honor the heroism performed in America’s longest war. Our Foundation is laser-focused on this mission, and we welcome the support of all Americans to make the dream of a reverent, inclusive, and apolitical Memorial become a reality.”
– Michael “Rod” Rodríguez, Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation President and CEO
Our Vision
The Memorial will:
Honor
Salute all who served in this conflict: service members, civilians, and their families.
Heal
Provide a focal point for healing and reflection on a complex, multigenerational conflict.
Empower
Engage and educate civilian and military communities to build mutual understanding.
Unite
Foster and sustain the sense of patriotism that brought all Americans together in the wake of 9/11, and catalyze support for those continuing to serve.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build an inclusive National Memorial honoring all the uniformed and non-uniformed personnel who have served in the Global War on Terrorism, as well as the civilians, family members, and other groups who have supported America’s service members throughout the conflict.
Location
Site Selected: April 2023
In April 2023, The National Captial Planning Commission authorized the Foundation to specify designs towards Site A located at 23rd Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, and Henry Bacon Drive NW. This third authorization joined those received by the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the Commission on Fine Arts and moved the Foundation into steps 13-19 of the 24-step Memorial construction process.
The Global War On Terrorism
While many Americans conceive of the GWOT strictly as the U.S-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the reality is the GWOT has entailed various forms of combat and non-combat operations undertaken across several continents. Spanning more than two decades, this multi-generational war is one of the longest conflicts in American history with no end in sight.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, from 9/11 to 2018 approximately 3.7 million veterans served in the U.S. military.[1] As of December 20, 2021, approximately 7,054 U.S. servicemembers have been killed and 53,323 have been wounded in overseas contingency operations as part of America’s Global War on Terrorism since 9/11.[2]
Vespa, Jonathan, “Those Who Served: America’s Veterans from World War II to the War on Terror,” American Community Survey Report issued June 2020.
U.S. Dept. of Defense, Defense Casualty Analysis System. December 20, 2021.
Timeline of Accomplishments
Notable Media Coverage
- Design Advisory Council (DAC) Co-Chairs Elliot Ackerman and Jennifer Ballou’s Washington Post op-ed supporting the Memorial, September 2023
- Advisory Board and DAC Members Shannon Slutman and Jennie Taylor reflect on Memorial Day and their involvement with the Foundation in Reserve + National Guard Magazine, May 2023
- President and CEO Michael “Rod” Rodríguez appearance on the American Legion’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast, January 2022.
- Rodríguez appearance on Fox and Friends, December 2021.
- Advocates push for the GWOT Memorial to be on the National Mall as featured in Military Times, September 2021
- Washington Post op-ed from six former U.S. Secretaries of Defense calling for the Memorial’s construction, September 2021.
- Advisory Board Member and Gold Star Wife Jennie Taylor USA Today op-ed on the importance of a GWOT Memorial on the National Mall, September 2021.
Social Media
Follow the Foundation on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
