Knight-Bell joins Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program, carrying forward family’s legacy of service and sacrifice
The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation announced today that Nahsir Knight-Bell has joined the revered Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program as the newest Gold Star Child Fellow in honor of his father, 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell, who was Killed in Action in August 2012.
“I am honored to welcome Nahsir to the Operation Jawbreaker Fellowship Program,” said GWOT Memorial Foundation President and CEO Michael “Rod” Rodríguez. “The bravery that our Gold Star Child Fellows hold is something I am incredibly proud to witness. His perseverance and responsibility are admirable beyond words and embodies our mission. We are grateful to have him on-board.”
A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Knight-Bell is driven by a passion for service and personal growth. In 2023, he experienced another profound loss with the unexpected passing of his mother. Since then, he has embraced the responsibility of raising his younger brother. Nahsir is a 2025 graduate of Methodist University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Management. He will begin his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in Spring 2026. Nahsir remains steadfast in building a future that honors his family’s sacrifices and serves as a foundation of inspiration and leadership for his siblings and community.
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Jawbreaker Fellowship Program is named after Operation Jawbreaker, which was the previously classified operation that deployed CIA personnel to Afghanistan as the first boots on the ground just fifteen days after September 11th, 2001. The program’s name honors the contributions that non-uniformed personnel have made in the Global War on Terrorism, instilling unity between military and non-military personnel around the organization’s mission of building the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Jawbreaker Fellowship Program reflects its commitment to representing diverse experiences and backgrounds. The program plays a crucial role in creating a legacy, ensuring that even after the Memorial is built, awareness of the Global War on Terrorism, its heroes, and its profound impact on history continues to grow.
Knight-Bell joins current Fellows Scott DeLuzio, Stephen Ross, and Ganpat “Gunner” Wagh, who joined the program in January 2025, and succeeds Megan Taylor as the newest Gold Star Fellow.