The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. began formal operations in the spring of 2005 and worked with the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation on the design and construction management plan. In the summer of 2006, the organization assumed responsibility for overseeing the design and working with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the construction manager on the project.

In the beginning of October 2006, the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, the 108th Mayor of New York City, became Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Following the election of the Mayor as Chairman, the Foundation named Joseph C. Daniels as President. Initially the Foundation’s General Counsel, Mr. Daniels served as Acting President for five months before accepting the permanent post in the fall of 2006.