The FOIA request targeted emails to and from Yasir Qureshi, identified through sources and publicly available LinkedIn information as a Navy Program Manager who was involved in the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), led by Jay Stratton and later Brennan McKernan. As of December 2024, Qureshi now appears to be at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSD(I&S)) (this is solely using openly sourced information that is publicly available via LinkedIn), suggesting possible current involvement in the successor entity, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), though this has not been confirmed. It does state “Deputy Director H&SA” as his current position (also available publicly on LinkedIn), but it is unclear exactly what “H&SA” is in this context.

Although names were redacted throughout the release under FOIA Exemption (b)(6), the Navy mistakenly failed to apply those redactions correctly, inadvertently revealing email addresses, phone numbers, and also Qureshi’s identity in certain parts of the file upon release. The Black Vault chose to re-apply those redactions as originally intended by the Navy to protect privacy and as a courtesy to the U.S. Navy. Although The Black Vault was also going to withhold Qureshi’s name from publication once documents were released and published, a decision was made to publish Qureshi’s name in this, since it was used in the official FOIA response letter by the Navy, which becomes a matter of public record, and this case will be listed in the Navy’s FOIA case log.

FAA Sightings, ODNI Coordination

The 17-page release includes internal discussions and email threads from October through December 2021 between various Navy components and other government agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), addressing a civilian UAP sighting report submitted by an FAA employee.

“I’m thinking I’d probably want to get this to the UAPTF,” the FAA employee wrote in one email, providing dates and times of three separate UAP encounters observed “from the ground,” dating back to Christmas nights in 1991, 1992, and 1993. While noting hesitation in providing full detail, the sender emphasized they would feel more comfortable elaborating if historical radar data confirmed anomalous activity: “If there’s historical radar data that says there was something odd going on… I’d definitely feel a lot more comfortable describing what I saw.”

Emails show that the report was routed to ODNI Public Affairs before being passed along to Navy officials and ultimately to the UAPTF. “Thanks… much appreciated. I have actually spoken to him briefly, and he did pass me his report,” one Navy official wrote in a reply.

Five Eyes Briefings and AARO Transition

These newly released Navy emails also confirm high-level UAP coordination between the U.S. and its Five Eyes allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. On December 8, 2021, members of the UAP Task Force (UAPTF), including its director, were scheduled to meet with international counterparts for a classified discussion on unidentified aerial phenomena.

“Re tomorrow’s UAP briefing, I received confirmation from Australia and Canada they will be here … and of course UK,” one U.S. official wrote.

The meeting, however, was ultimately rescheduled due to a last-minute calendar conflict. That decision prompted frustration from officials within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)). “I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed this did not happen,” wrote a U.S. official, who had encouraged partners to reserve time. A UAPTF counterpart responded, “The last thing we want to do is be dismissive of our allies and their time.”

But, later meetings between the Five Eyes did indeed take place, and were confirmed through U.S. documents also released under the FOIA to Australian researcher Grant Lavac, which listed a Five Eyes “caucus working group” with an explicit goal: “to cultivate shared awareness of allies’ UAP issues, detection, and mitigation activities and challenges.” The agenda included discussions of “networks to share Five Eyes UAP reporting”.

The newly released emails contradict multiple public statements previously made by Australia’s top military leadership. As recently highlighted by The Canberra Times, Air Marshal Robert Chipman — then Chief of Air Force and now Vice Chief of Defence — twice denied that Australia had been briefed by the United States on UAPs. “I’m not aware of any formal discussions that we’ve held with the US,” he told Parliament in 2022. When asked again in 2023 if any Australian defence attachés had received UAPTF briefings, Chipman replied flatly, “No.”

The Canberra Times article, authored by Jamieson Murphy, credited independent UAP researcher Lavac for identifying the significance of the emails and exposing the contradiction. Lavac called the lack of transparency “quite concerning,” adding, “The Chief of Air Force leads all discussions on UAP in Australia, so if there’s one person that needs to know what is happening on this topic in an Australian context and our discussions with allies, it’s him.”

According to Lavac, there are only three explanations: “He’s either uninformed because there is a complete lack of intelligence sharing, or there’s a degree of incompetence, or it’s something more sinister like plausible deniability. Any one of those three scenarios is concerning.”

The email release also occurred in the final weeks before the formal establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the successor to the UAPTF. On November 23, 2021, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks issued a directive for OUSD(I&S) to take over the UAPTF’s responsibilities and create a permanent structure. Her memorandum, included in the FOIA release, emphasized the need to synchronize UAP data collection and analysis across the military and intelligence community, and to collaborate with non-DoD partners, including foreign allies.

The documents confirm that international UAP cooperation was already underway, and they raise questions about why those efforts were denied in official forums. As The Canberra Times noted, the Department of Defence declined to answer when asked whether Australia had attended the Five Eyes briefing.

Contracting, Budget Questions, and Transition to OUSD(I&S)

Another thread includes internal Navy discussions about whether to proceed with onboarding a knowledge management specialist to support the Task Force — possibly using contractor support. However, with the imminent shift of the portfolio to OUSD(I&S), officials voiced concern over wasting resources if funding was rerouted.

“With OUSD(I&S) taking over the portfolio, this may be OBE [overcome by events],” one official wrote. “I don’t want the company to hire an individual if… there is no money due to a CR [Continuing Resolution].”

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DON-NAVY-2022-003198 Release Package [20 Pages, 1MB]

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The post Newly Released Navy Emails Reveal UAP Coordination, Five Eyes Briefings, and Forgotten Redactions first appeared on The Black Vault.

The U.S. Navy has recently released several Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) briefing documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), shedding new light on the U.S. government’s involvement investigating the phenomenon through the now disbanded UAP Task Force (UAPTF). Some of these briefings were tied to FOIA cases and subsequent appeals filed by The Black Vault, fighting for the release of these records that were originally denied in full or stonewalled due to excessive processing times that went on for years, despite “expedited processing” being granted after the initial filing.

These briefings, created through the 2020/2021 timeframe by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and the UAPTF, were prepared for high-level defense committees and officials, including the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), U.S. Marine Corps, and the Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence (DDNI) and others. While the documents remain heavily redacted to protect national security, they reveal significant details about UAPs and how U.S. agencies view these unexplained aerial phenomena as potential threats.

The documents all have substantial redactions under exemption (b)(1), which conceals information critical to national security. Even the classification level itself is withheld, emphasizing the sensitivity of the briefings. The UAPTF, operating under ONI, led an interagency effort to collect, analyze, and share operational, scientific, and technical data on UAPs in a bid to understand their implications for aviation safety and U.S. national security. The focus on safety and security is evident, as multiple sections in the briefings underscore the frequency of UAP encounters near military training areas and sensitive airspace, where what they also refer to as “Range Foulers” interfere with air operations.

U.S. aircrews have described close and often unsettling encounters with these objects, which often display advanced, non-traditional flight characteristics and appear through multi-sensor detections, including radar and infrared. The UAPTF’s task, as detailed in the May 17, 2021, briefing, is to gather and centralize such data while removing stigma from reporting incidents, encouraging more aircrews to report sightings without fear of professional reprisal. According to these documents, the task force views these reports as critical for anticipating and addressing potential foreign technology and intelligence threats.

Throughout the briefings, several examples of UAP encounters are shared, though most remain heavily redacted. One example describes a UAP observed as a “spherical” object that moved toward the water’s surface before disappearing, with search efforts for wreckage yielding no results. Another incident notes the sighting of “triangular” objects through visual confirmation and sensors, which, like many other sightings, originated near U.S. training areas where both routine and intensive testing occurs. These briefings reveal that the UAPTF was actively working with partners across the Department of Defense, as well as with agencies like NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the intelligence community, to expand its data analysis capabilities. While a specific classification level was redacted, documents also reveal that a framework is in place to use these reports to “cue various other advanced means of tracking and analysis” across multiple agencies. This coordinated data-sharing approach points to the high priority given to understanding and mitigating the risks associated with UAP encounters.

Each document emphasizes the need to develop a comprehensive approach for analyzing UAP incidents, with experts across science, intelligence, and technology sectors contributing to the process. The UAPTF is tasked with preparing periodic assessments for Congress, with efforts directed toward enhancing data collection, analysis, and the establishment of more streamlined reporting standards.

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Briefing for the Deputy Director, Naval Intelligence Director, Naval Intelligence Activity – February 27, 2020 [20 Pages, 2.5MB]

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Briefing for the House Armed Services Committee – March 11, 2020 [17 Pages, 2.0MB]

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Briefing for the United States Marine Corps – Date Unknown [18 Pages, 2.0MB]

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Briefing for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) – May 17, 2021 [15 Pages, 2.5MB]

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Briefing and Emails With STRATCOM – July 2020 [23 Pages, 1.8MB]

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The post U.S. Navy Releases UAP Briefing Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

A recent release of documents obtained through two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by The Black Vault in 2021 and 2022, has shed light on a briefing about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (now referred to as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena [UAP]) by the UAP Task Force (UAPTF) for NASA.

The UAPTF was a U.S. Department of Defense program established to investigate UAP reports, running from 2020 until its transition to the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) in 2021.

The requests specifically asked for “all communications, emails or otherwise, between the UAP Task Force, and NASA,” after it was revealed in NASA FOIA Case 21-HQ-F-00507 that the UAPTF had requested NASA brief them on UAPs in September 2020. That case sought all communications between the task force and NASA. A second case was filed in 2022 to specifically request a “classified slide deck on Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP), created by Jay Stratton, that was shown to NASA and likely other agencies in October of 2020” also revealed by previously released documents.

These newly released records, sent by the U.S. Navy to The Black Vault, include a heavily redacted slide deck which provides a glimpse into that briefing.

Previously released documents confirm that International Space Station (ISS) Program Manager, Joel Montalbano; Director of the Export Control and Interagency Liaison Division, Margaret Kieffer; Former Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs, Suzanne Gillen; and Former Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, Mike Gold; all attended the briefing.

While much of the material from that briefing remains classified, several important details can be discerned from the slides that were included in the release.

One of the main points of interest is the extensive redaction throughout the slide deck, particularly in sections that discuss photographic evidence of UAPs. Photographs were included, but nearly all of them remain classified, with the exception of one image.

Another notable section discusses the use of multiple sensors in detecting UAPs. According to the slide, the UAPTF employs a combination of technologies and reporting from operators to track and analyze UAPs. This multi-sensor approach is essential for corroborating sightings and gathering reliable data, which is then shared with other U.S. government partners for further analysis.

One of the slides also focuses on the November 14, 2004, “Tic Tac” incident involving the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11). The briefing describes the object as a “solid white, smooth” craft without any visible wings or pylons, measuring approximately 46 feet in length. Despite the event being validated by debriefs from aircrew and other personnel, the report notes that there was limited data available to conduct a thorough technical analysis at the time.

A slide titled “Potential Explanations” presents three possible explanations for UAPs, but two of these have been redacted. The only explanation visible suggests that some UAP sightings could be attributed to “unknown weather or other natural phenomena.” The redaction of the other two possibilities leaves their nature unclear.

As seen in the screenshots above, and the full document release below, the documents contain extensive redactions under two primary Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions: Exemption (b)(1) and Exemption (b)(5).

Exemption (b)(1) is used to protect classified information that pertains to national defense or foreign policy, as established by an executive order. In this case, much of the redacted content, including UAP photographs and certain technical data, likely falls under this exemption due to its potential impact on national security.

Exemption (b)(5) covers privileged interagency or intra-agency communications that are part of the government’s deliberative process. This exemption allows the withholding of documents that reflect internal discussions, recommendations, and draft policies that are not finalized. In the context of the UAP briefing, sections regarding potential explanations for UAP sightings and internal assessments have been redacted under (b)(5), likely because they involve pre-decisional analysis or sensitive deliberations between agencies.

This release, while heavily redacted, provides a rare glimpse into the collaboration between the UAP Task Force and NASA. It highlights the efforts that were made to investigate and analyze UAP sightings during the time of the task force. The redactions, particularly in areas relating to photographic evidence and potential explanations, reflect the sensitive nature of the information involved.

As more documents become available, The Black Vault will continue to publish and highlight those revelations.

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Heavily Redacted UAP Briefing Between UAP Task Force and NASA Released [16 Pages, 2.3MB]

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The post Heavily Redacted UAP Briefing Between UAP Task Force and NASA Released first appeared on The Black Vault.

• The Department of Defense released another ‘Briefing Card’ about the AOIMSG, a DoD effort previously studying UFOs.
• This document contains intriguing redactions under exemption (b)(5) and extra information that were absent in previous releases of the same record.
• A question in the ‘Questions and Answers’ section and an entire section under ‘Additional Background Information (Not for release)’ have been redacted, prompting questions about the content and why it’s being withheld in public affairs materials.
• The placement of the “Additional Background Information” section under a question about “extraterrestrials” prompts the questions on whether or not they are related.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has just released another “Briefing Card” pertaining to the establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG). The AOIMSG was a DoD entity dedicated to detecting and identifying unidentified objects of interest in special-use airspace.  These newly released records were released as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release in case 22-F-0381.

The briefing card, possibly a “draft” version, dated December 9, 2021, carries certain intriguing redactions and extra information that were absent in previous documents released by the DoD, which were chronicled on The Black Vault just weeks ago.

Intriguingly, an entire question in the ‘Questions and Answers’ section is blotted out under exemption (b)(5). This exemption is applied to “inter- and intra- agency memoranda which are deliberative in nature,” according to the denial letter from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

When compared to the previous release by The Black Vault, it appears the redaction was absent, however, it’s unclear if the presumed “draft” version just released holds the same question revealed last time and the redaction was placed in error.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of both releases:

Similarly, an entire section under ‘Additional Background Information (Not for Release)’ is also blanketed with exemption (b)(5), prompting questions about the nature of the redacted content, and its placement within the document itself.

The redactions, and even the entire section about “Additional Background Information” was not included in the May 16, 2023, release to The Black Vault, nor was any information referenced in the denial letter as being entirely withheld.

It should also be noted that the “Additional Background Information” material follows one of the more intriguing sections of the public affairs “briefing card” document; the question about extraterrestrials.

“Has the Department found any evidence of extraterrestrial technology?”, the question reads. The answer set for the public states, “The examinations into incursions by UAPs are still ongoing; we lack sufficient information in our dataset to attribute incidents to specific explanations. It is not the purpose of the AOIMSG to look for evidence of extraterrestrials. Other parts of the government do that; for example, NASA looks for evidence of life on other planets.”

What follows is the information exempted from release under the “Additional Background Information” header, but it is unknown if that information relates to the question about extraterrestrials, or if it entirely unrelated.

The redactions raise eyebrows and quite rightfully so. These are Public Affairs records, and their purpose is to chronicle information meant for the public, not to document information to withhold from the public.

There’s a growing public interest in the potential implications of UAP/UFOs on national security and aviation safety. In the spirit of democratic transparency and the need to build public trust, full disclosure of such information is paramount.

Furthermore, the case for transparency is especially strong given the current climate surrounding UFOs/UAPs. With sightings continuing to be reported by military personnel and the establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) which replaced the AOIMSG, it’s clear that this topic is not fading into the background.

In response to these questionable redactions, an appeal has been filed by The Black Vault.  During the course of that case, the DoD will  reassess the redactions, consider the immense public interest, and hopefully take a step toward greater transparency on this important subject.

As the saga continues to unfold, it’s crucial that we remember the public’s right to be informed, especially on a topic that has captured the world’s attention. As we seek answers to the questions surrounding UAP/UFOs, it’s clear that the fight for transparency is far from over.

UPDATE: On April 3, 2024, the appeal was finalized and the document was released, with the pertinent redactions lifted. That release is also available below.

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FOIA Case 22-F-0381 Release

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FOIA Appeal 22-A-0381-A

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The post DoD Releases Another AOIMSG Briefing Card: Questions Raised Over Redactions (UPDATED) first appeared on The Black Vault.

The UAPTF, established on August 4, 2020, by the Department of Defense, aimed to understand and analyze unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) that could pose a threat to U.S. national security. In July 2022, it was rebranded as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) with a broader scope, including surveillance, collection, and analysis of UAP incidents across various domains.

The NRO’s response, dated February 29, 2024, indicates that seventeen documents were found to be responsive to the request. One document was denied in full, and sixteen were released in part. The redactions were made under FOIA exemptions (b)(1), for properly classified information under Executive Order 13526 Section 1.4(g), and (b)(3), which is the basis for withholding information exempt from disclosure by statute, specifically 10 U.S.C. § 424.

The released documents are heavily redacted, with many sections obscured under the mentioned exemptions. The content that is visible mainly consists of email exchanges discussing the coordination and review of a draft “180 Day Report on UAP” by the UAP Task Force. There are references to informal exchanges of information, taskings, and the involvement of various offices and agencies, including the NRO, in supporting the UAP Task Force. The specifics of the support provided or the content of the discussions are largely redacted.

Some key discoveries include the following.

First, in May 2021, an email from an unknown party to an unknown party was speaking about a “UAPTF Training Video.” This video has never been known to exist before, and the contents of it are unknown. Although the email was classified SECRET, and posted on a redacted system (possibly SIPRNET or JWICS), there was indication in the email they were able to share it via a Dropbox system, which would not adhere to any protocol for transferring classified files. That means it is likely the video itself may be unclassified, and potentially releasable via FOIA.

The Black Vault has filed requests for this video to numerous agencies for a copy. Those cases will be posted on The Black Vault, once available.

Another key document is an April 22, 2021, email which refers to the NRO effort to support the UAPTF. The name of it is considered classified (given the [b][1] exemption citation in the margin), but it does show that there was an established effort at the NRO to support the UAP research efforts of the established task force.

Overall, the documents provide limited insight into the nature of the communications between the NRO and the UAP Task Force due to the extensive redactions. The reasons for the redactions are based on national security concerns and the protection of sensitive information related to the functions and personnel of the NRO. But through the redacted lines, there lies pieces of the puzzle to see just how in-depth, and how classified, the UAP research programs truly are.

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FOIA Request Uncovers NRO and UAP Task Force Emails [133 Pages, 4.1MB]

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The post FOIA Request Uncovers NRO and UAP Task Force Emails first appeared on The Black Vault.

Just weeks ago, The Black Vault secured a partial release of the classified UAP report given to Congress on June 25, 2021. Now, newly released documents from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) shed light on their contributions to that report, and to the UAP research effort underway by numerous corners of the U.S. military, government and intelligence community.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the NRO by The Black Vault on July 22, 2021. It was given NRO FOIA Case F-2021-00164, and zeroed in on the email box of the Director of the NRO, Christopher Scolese.

Specifically, it sought the following:

“… a copy of all emails, sent to/from | bcc/cc’d Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, Christopher J. Scolese, that contain the phrases and keywords: “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” and/or “Aerial Phenomenon” and/or UAP and/or UFO and/or “Unidentified Flying Objects” and/or UAPs and/or UFOs and/or “UAP Task Force”.

The request sought after all e-mails and any attachments on both the unclassified and classified levels.

The result was a small stack of documents, most of which at the TOP SECRET level. The majority of what was released was an email with the subject, “Status of actions regarding UAPs”, sent June 9, 2021, just weeks before The Black Vault’s FOIA request was filed.

The email was written by Thomas B. Bowman, who was revealed within the released documents as the official NRO “Point of Contact” or POC for efforts tied to the UAP Task Force. This email, originally classified at the Top Secret level, was sent to Director Scolese, but also to Dr. Troy E. Meink, NRO Principal Deputy Director, and Major General Michael A. Guetlein, NRO Deputy Director.

This email broke down numerous pieces of information, and here are some of the highlights.

First, it broke down “three efforts” that Bowman wanted to highlight.

As seen here, it reveals for the first time that NROs contribution totaled four paragraphs of information within the seventeen page classified UAP report. The second “effort” is entirely redacted for national security reasons, but the third reveals that the DoD’s Inspector General (DoD/IG) interviewed several officers from the NRO Mission Integration Directorate (MID). This was tied to the DoD Inspector General’s evaluation into the handling and response to the UAP topic which was launched in May 2021.

Another portion of the email breaks down the NRO’s input to the classified UAP Task Force’s final report to Congress. It states the following:

As seen with the above, the NRO had to sign off on the final version of the report thus approving their contributions, and this released email also revealed some of the once classified Top Secret contributions to the report.

Key takeaway, although easily assumed prior to this release, solidifies the involvement of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for GEOINT and the National Security Agency (NSA) for SIGINT, collected for the UAP research effort. The involvement of both agencies indicate that American spy satellites and intercepted communications all play a role in unraveling the UAP mystery.

Although a large portion of the email stays at the TOP SECRET and SECRET levels, and is heavily redacted as a result; another section that was not hidden does reveal small details on the DoD/IG UAP project, and the NRO’s future involvement.

As indicated with the above portion, the DoD/IG was going to task a “data call” to the NRO about two weeks after the email was written. This indicates much more involvement by the NRO in the DoD/IG’s effort, but it is unclear what the “data call” would entail.

Following this email were ten pages denied in toto, primarily withheld for national security reasons under exemption (b)(1). These pages may be the detail of that “data call” or something else entirely. It is only speculation on what is withheld.

The result of this request has spawned numerous cases filed by The Black Vault today, to build off this case. The results of those cases, when available, will be posted promptly.

Make sure you are subscribed to The Black Vault on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for notifications on new document drops.

The entire FOIA release is below.

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F-2021-00164.pdf [17 Pages, 1.3MB]

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F-2021-00164 Full FOIA Case File (Archived for reference) [47 Pages, 15MB]

The post Newly Released NRO Documents Reveal Extent Of UAP Involvement and Contributions to UAP Task Force Report first appeared on The Black Vault.

The below is a FLASH story, wherein documents have JUST been released. In lieu of crafting a lengthier story, The Black Vault has decided to unveil part of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release. There is much more to come throughout the results of numerous FOIA requests and appeals.

The following document is part of a larger Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release. The Black Vault, for years, has had numerous FOIA requests open for various aspects of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) material and has undergone long waits for the material to arrive.

It appears that during this FOIA process, the Navy has created a different, but extremely disorganized, process for releasing material. Many times, they are combining numerous requests into one resulting in various documents to sift through. The Navy is also attempting to add material to their online reading room, which also has caused much confusion and frustration along the way, since material is appearing there long before requesters are notified – if they are notified at all.

To make matters worse, the Department of Defense is requiring the Pentagon review all UAP related material set to be released via the FOIA. This is causing longer delays.

For now, The Black Vault is profiling a 2019 heavily redacted release of a Congressional briefing on UAPs and the UAP Task Force (UAPTF).

There are more documents that have been released, and will be highlighted in the coming days.

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U.S. Navy Releases Heavily Redacted UAP/UFO Briefing Given To Congress in October 2019 [20 Pages, 2MB]

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The post U.S. Navy Releases Heavily Redacted UAP/UFO Briefing Given To Congress in October 2019 first appeared on The Black Vault.

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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The post Internal DoD/IG PowerPoint Presentation on UFO/UAP Evaluation Released first appeared on The Black Vault.

NASA’s Administrator Bill Nelson is scheduled to obtain a classified briefing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) tomorrow. This news, which comes from two documents released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and obtained by The Black Vault, was revealed within two Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) “Weekly Update” e-mails sent on July 18th and July 25th of this year. Both updates outline a list of “Upcoming Activities” for Administrator Nelson and other NASA personnel, and both list a “Briefing to Administrator on Task Force Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” set for August 17. 

Details about the classified briefing are not listed within the document, but The Black Vault reached out to the Department of Defense (the UAP Task Force) and to NASA for a response. The Pentagon answered on behalf of both agencies:

“The UAPTF is providing a classified briefing on UAP to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,” said Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough in an e-mail to The Black Vault. “During the course of its work, the UAPTF has reached out to organizations across DoD, the Intelligence Community, and the U.S. government. For security reasons, we will not detail the contributions of specific organizations to the UAPTF’s work, nor the areas discussed with every organization as part of the UAPTF’s investigations. It is worth noting, however, that NASA is an organization with broad scientific responsibilities, including atmospheric research, etc. Such information is vital to fully understanding the environment in which Navy aviators operate and the conditions that may have been present during any particular observation.”

Gough further confirmed the briefing was still scheduled for tomorrow, but declined to confirm that Nelson would, in fact, be there.

As reported in a previous story published by The Black Vault last month, NASA also received a briefing on UAPs back in September of 2020. This specific meeting involved various NASA officials including International Space Station (ISS) Program Manager Joel Montalbano; Director of the Export Control and Interagency Liaison Division Margaret Kieffer; Former Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Suzanne Gillen; and then Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations, Mike Gold. This, also, was revealed by documents obtained through the FOIA.

###

Document Archive

UPDATE September 17, 2021

In another FOIA Case with NASA, in case 21-HQ-F-00660, one of the same records above was released but with numerous (b)(5) redactions. It is unclear why in one case they were released in full and in another it was redacted.

The said, it is archived here for reference:

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The post NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Scheduled To Receive Classified UAP Briefing August 17, 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

“Supporting the IC’s efforts to assess unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), following up on the work of the UAP Task Force.”

When reading the bill that has just passed the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which does have a long road to being passed by the House, Senate, then signed into law by President Joe Biden; Section 345 has extensive detail about UAPs, the UAP Task Force, and the data they will receive.

SEC. 345. SUPPORT FOR AND OVERSIGHT OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA 
              TASK FORCE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' includes:
                    (A) The congressional intelligence committees.
                    (B) The Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
                    (C) The Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Unidentified aerial phenomena task force.--The term 
        ``Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force'' means the task 
        force established by the Department of Defense on August 4, 
        2020, to be led by the Department of the Navy, under the Office 
        of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and 
        Security.
    (b) Availability of Data on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.--The 
Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense shall 
each, in coordination with each other, require each element of the 
intelligence community and the Department of Defense with data relating 
to unidentified aerial phenomena to make such data available 
immediately to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force and to the 
National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
    (c) Quarterly Reports to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than 
        quarterly thereafter, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task 
        Force, or such other entity as the Deputy Secretary of Defense 
        may designate to be responsible for matters relating to 
        unidentified aerial phenomena, shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress quarterly reports on the findings of the 
        Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, or such other 
        designated entity as the case may be.
            (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include, at a minimum, the following:
                    (A) All reported unidentified aerial phenomena-
                related events that occurred during the previous 90 
                days.
                    (B) All reported unidentified aerial phenomena-
                related events that occurred during a time period other 
                than the previous 90 days but were not included in an 
                earlier report.
            (3) Form.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
        be submitted in classified form.

Arguably, one of the most interesting aspects to the above language, is the inclusion of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). Appearing right along side the UAP Task Force, they are both set to receive UAP data from the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense (DoD).

In a coincidence, The Black Vault was fishing around NASIC via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) just a couple months ago and NASIC said in a request asking for UAP and UFO related information, they they had “no records.”

In addition, they tried to pass on the decades-old explanation that although the USAF investigated UFOs with Project Blue Book, they cancelled it and haven’t done so since.

Despite the inaccuracies, the bill will provide FOIA fodder for The Black Vault (and likely many others) for years to come.

The post U.S. Air Force Set To Enter The UFO Research Arena… Again? first appeared on The Black Vault.

On June 1, 2021, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby fielded multiple questions regarding UFOs/UAPs during his press conference.

These are clips from that briefing, where he addresses the press on the issue.

The post Pentagon Press Secretary Takes UFO/UAP Questions on June 1, 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following memorandum was published by the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, on May 3, 2021. It announces the subject evaluation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and the actions taken by the DOD.

Pressing for additional details on the DOD/OIG UAP “Evaluation”, which I asked about WHY and WHO requested it, came up empty. According to their statement, “The DoD OIG does not have any additional information to offer beyond what is published in our project announcement.”

Document Archive

DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation for May 2021 [2 Pages, 0.4MB]

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The post DOD/OIG Announces Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Evaluation for May 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

This week, multiple photographs and a video, was “leaked” to the general public by George Knapp at MysteryWire.com and Jeremy Corbell from ExtraordinaryBeliefs.com. The Pentagon has now confirmed to The Black Vault via e-mail, that the photos and videos leaked this week, all were taken by Navy personnel.

“I can confirm that the referenced photos and videos were taken by Navy personnel. The UAPTF has included these incidents in their ongoing examinations,” said Susan Gough, Pentagon Spokesperson. “As we have said before, to maintain operations security and to avoid disclosing information that may be useful to potential adversaries, DOD does not discuss publicly the details of either the observations or the examinations of reported incursions into our training ranges or designated airspace, including those incursions initially designated as UAP.”

However, Gough refused to confirm whether they remain “unidentified,” or are used as training material for identifiable objects, or remain unknowns. “I have nothing further for you beyond what I provided,” Gough stated. No additional information was provided.

The post Pentagon CONFIRMS Recent UAP / UFO Leaks as Genuine first appeared on The Black Vault.