DOD/OIG - The Black Vault

DoD’s Office of the Inspector General’s Evaluation on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Still Underway

John Greenewald — Thu, 11 May 2023 21:40:50 +0000

Original memorandum announcing the “Evaluation” by the DoD’s Inspector General

In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of the Inspector General (DoD/OIG) announced an evaluation into the Department’s actions concerning Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), otherwise known as UFOs. This announcement sparked significant interest among researchers, enthusiasts, and skeptics alike, all eager to understand the U.S. government’s handling of these mysterious phenomena. As of 2023, the investigation remains ongoing, according to a recent statement received by The Black Vault.

The DoD/OIG is an independent office within the Department of Defense tasked with preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse within the Department. It also provides oversight and promotes accountability across the Department’s wide range of activities.

In May 2021, the Office announced an evaluation into how the DoD has been handling matters related to UAPs. The announcement followed the release of several videos by the Department of Defense in 2020 that depicted encounters between U.S. military pilots and UAPs. These declassifications led to increased public interest and scrutiny of the U.S. government’s efforts to understand and address these phenomena.

Megan Reed, a spokeswoman for the DoD/OIG, confirmed in a statement to The Black Vault that the investigation announced in 2021 is still ongoing.

“Yes, this project is still ongoing, and I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop once we are closer to the report’s release,” she stated in an e-mail.

However, there is currently no confirmation that a public report will be released upon the conclusion of the evaluation. This has raised concerns about transparency and public awareness, particularly given the high level of public interest in UAPs.

Whether the report is publicly released, classified, or not released at all, The Black Vault is prepared to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access the findings. By utilizing this tool, The Black Vault aims to ensure that the public is informed about the DoD’s approach to UAPs.

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DoD Inspector General Releases Transcript of Luis Elizondo Interview & Much More

John Greenewald — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:58:14 +0000

On May 3, 2021, Luis Elizondo filed a Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Fraud, Waste & Abuse Hotline Complaint. Elizondo made numerous allegations specifically against three people within the Department of Defense, which included Garry Reid, Susan Gough and Neill Tipton, alleging “… malicious activities, coordinated disinformation, professional misconduct, whistleblower reprisal and and explicit threats perpetrated by certain senior-level Pentagon officials, including the Director of Defense for Intelligence and Security (DDI I&S), Garry Reid, Public Affairs Officer Susan Gough, and any other officials who were complicit in these acts.”

That DoD/OIG complaint was published by the NY POST.

In October of 2022, The Black Vault filed three FOIA requests seeking out the following:

A copy of the video and/or audio of Mr. Luis Elizondo’s interview with Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations that occurred on, or around, May 19, 2021, a transcript of the interview, and all internal notes, communications, and emails about the interview;
All emails within Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations which contain the word “Elizondo”; and
All emails that are to/from (bcc’d or cc’d) the DoD OIG and attorney Daniel Peter Sheehan, from January 1, 2020, to the date of processing your request.

The discovery of the interview was made by The Black Vault throughout previous FOIA cases.

On February 9, 2023, the DoD/OIG responded and came back with responsive records. Although the audio recording was unable to be edited to comply with the FOIA (appeal pending), a transcript (partially redacted) was released.

In addition to this, other key records became available, including a February 16, 2022, letter from Nilgen Tolek, Director of the Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations within the DoD/OIG, wherein it was stated that, “The evidence we reviewed does not support your client’s reprisal complaint because no action affecting his eligibility for access to classified information was taken or threatened against him.”

Tolek continued, “Your client’s eligibility for access to classified information remains intact. Accordingly, we are closing his case.”

Other records released were communications between Mr. Elizondo and the DoD/OIG’s office, along with internal communications about the investigation.

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DoD Inspector General Releases Transcript of Luis Elizondo Interview & Much More [103 Pages, 4.1MB]

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DoD Inspector General Releases Emails in Different FOIA Case. Repeats from above. Archived for reference. [10 Pages, 2MB]

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FOIA Case Files for above FOIA Requests [64 Pages, 17.9MB]

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Evaluation of DoD Nuclear Enterprise Governance (DODIG-2016-25)

John Greenewald — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:52:17 +0000

The objective of this evaluation was to determine whether responsibilities and authorities for nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon systems and DoD nuclear command and control systems are effectively aligned within the office of the Secretary of Defense, the joint Staff, and ad hoc/statutory committees. Specifically, we examined decision-making processes, interdepartmental coordination, and any gaps, seams, and overlaps between offices and committees.

The Black Vault filed a FOIA request for this report on September 28, 2016, and it was not released until October 28, 2022. The redacted version is below:

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Evaluation of DoD Nuclear Enterprise Governance (DODIG-2016-25) [62 Pages, 13MB]

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Alleged Misconduct By Senior DoD Officials Concerning The Able Danger Program and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony A. Shaffer, U.S. Army Reserve, September 18, 2006

John Greenewald — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:47:57 +0000

This report provides the results of an investigation into allegations that DoD officials mismanaged an antiterrorist program known as “Able Danger,” and that in doing so they reprised against a key proponent of Able Danger, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Anthony A. Shaffer, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve who holds a civilian position in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

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Alleged Misconduct By Senior DoD Officials Concerning The Able Danger Program and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony A. Shaffer, U.S. Army Reserve, September 18, 2006 [73 Pages, 6MB] – (Note: Documents were requested on ABLE DANGER from DIA. They sent this DoD/OIG report link, so I combined their letter with that report.)

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Internal DoD/IG PowerPoint Presentation on UFO/UAP Evaluation Released

John Greenewald — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:37:07 +0000

On September 16, 2021, The Black Vault received via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case DODOIG-2021-001399, an internal Department of Defense / Office of the Inspector General (DoD/OIG) PowerPoint presentation regarding their previously announced DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation. The documents released, which held the designation “Controlled Unclassified Information” or CUI, shed more light on the DoD/OIG “Evaluation” of the DoD’s actions regarding UAPs.

The PowerPoint presentation appears to be from slides created for a June 30, 2021, “Management Entrance Conference” that focused in on the announced DoD/OIG “evaluation” of the DoD’s actions regarding UAPs.

One of the key sections includes the “Scope and Methodology” of the “Evaluation.” Here is where additional information is revealed, that outlines the DoD/OIG’s effort will, “…include Offices of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, the Services, Combat Support Agencies, other Defense Agencies, and the MClOs, as it relates to the actions taken to detect, collect, analyze, exploit, and address UAP.

It also appears that there will be extensive field work with “site visits” to explore the, “…policies, procedures, guidance, and actions taken to detect, collect, analyze, exploit, and address UAP activity.”

As of the writing of this article, it is unclear how the DoD has “exploited” UAPs, but something that may become more clear as The Black Vault’s FOIA cases are processed and potential documents are released. More information will be posted when that is available.

Below, you will find the documents as they were released to The Black Vault.

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Internal DoD/IG PowerPoint Presentation on UFO/UAP Evaluation Released [18 Pages, 2.3MB]

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Case Processing Notes for FOIA Case DODOIG-2021-001399 [16 Pages, 2.2MB]

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DoD To Evaluate “Nuclear Football” Security Procedures

John Greenewald — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 12:39:13 +0000

On July 19, 2021, the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Inspector General announced that they will be evaluating the “Notification Procedures for the Presidential Emergency Satchel” or better known as the “nuclear football.”

Their press release announcing the evaluation was sent out July 19, which read as the following:

“We plan to begin the subject evaluation in July 2021. The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent that DoD processes and procedures are in place and adequate to alert DoD officials in the event that the Presidential Emergency Satchel is lost, stolen, or compromised. This evaluation will also determine the adequacy of the procedures the DoD has developed to respond to such an event. We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.”

The same day, Randolph R. Stone Assistant Inspector General for Evaluations Space, Intelligence, Engineering and Oversight, sent a memorandum to the Director, Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Director, White House Military Office. The memo is below:

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