The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9-11 Commission, was created by congressional legislation and the signature of President George W. Bush in late 2002. This independent, bipartisan commission had the task of producing a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the attack, including preparedness and immediate response, and providing recommendations designed to guard against future attacks.

In this forth and final panel of the 12th hearing, the topic was the FAA response on 9-11. The commissioners heard testimony from Monte Belger, former FAA Acting Deputy Administrator; Jeff Griffith, former FAA Deputy Director of Air Traffic Control; and John White, former FAA Facility Manager of Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center.

Staff Statement No. 17: Improvising a Homeland Defense, presented before the 9-11 Commission on June 17, 2004.

In this third panel of the 12th hearing, the topic was the military response on 9-11. The commissioners heard testimony from Admiral Charles Joseph Leidig, USN Commandant of Midshipmen, U.S. Naval Academy; General Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; and Major General Larry Arnold, former USAF Commander, Continental United States NORAD Region.

In this first panel of the 12th hearing, the topic was Al Qaeda. The commissioners heard testimony from Mary Deborah Doran, an FBI Special Agent; Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and a CIA official identified only as "Dr. K" for security purposes.

In this second panel of the 12th hearing, the topic was the outline of the 9-11 plot. The commissioners heard testimony from FBI Special Agents Jacqueline Maguire and James N. Fitzgerald, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Adam B. Drucker, and a CIA official.

Staff Statement No. 16: Outline of the 9-11 Plot, presented before the 9-11 Commission on June 16, 2004.

Staff Statement No. 15: Overview of the Enemy, presented before the 9-11 Commission on June 16, 2004.

Staff Statement No. 14: Crisis Management, presented before the 9-11 Commission in New York City on May 19, 2004.

In this first panel of the 11th hearing before the 9-11 Commission, the focus was on the steps taken before 9-11 to make New York City prepared in the event of a terrorist attack. The commissioners heard testimony submitted from the following: Alan Reiss, former World Trade Department Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and Joseph Morris, former Chief of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department.