{"id":17820,"date":"2023-05-16T15:41:22","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T15:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/?p=17820"},"modified":"2025-11-21T13:25:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T13:25:04","slug":"department-of-defense-releases-aoimsg-related-documents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/department-of-defense-releases-aoimsg-related-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Defense Releases AOIMSG-Related Documents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Update 11\/21\/25: Additional AOIMSG-related documents have been released by the Department of Defense and are now added below. The original article below from May 16, 2023, remains unchanged, but this update adds to the archive with newly obtained records. The new material appears to have been produced following an appeal, though the correspondence does not make the sequence entirely clear since The Black Vault received no record of the appeal being won, and the request being remanded back to the FOIA office. Regardless of that point, the newly released records consist primarily of internal Joint Staff and OUSD(I&S) coordination packages, staffing sheets, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense memoranda establishing both the AOIMSG and the earlier UAP-related tasking, reflecting the Department\u2019s internal process for standing up the group, though much was released prior. There are multiple pages redacted in full, showing secrecy surrounding AOIMSG still remains. These documents provide added visibility into how the AOIMSG was formalized and transitioned from the UAP Task Force, and they have been posted in full for public review below.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Department of Defense (DoD) has released multiple documents pertaining to the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group<\/a> (AOIMSG) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case 22-F-0249 with OSD\/JS filed by The Black Vault. This development provides intriguing insights into the DoD’s research into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), and the processes surrounding the establishment and evolution of groups dedicated to this purpose within the Pentagon.<\/p>\n

The AOIMSG was a specialized task force established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to investigate and manage Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings and encounters. This group’s primary function was to coordinate and synchronize efforts across various military and governmental departments to gather, analyze, and share information regarding UAP.<\/p>\n

The spotlight of this release falls squarely on the OSD(PA) Briefing Cards related to the establishment of the AOIMSG. The unveiling of these briefing cards is a rare glimpse into the DoD’s internal communications and strategies regarding the AOIMSG and its role in researching UAP. The Black Vault has also received numerous cards<\/a> in the past, also shedding light on UAP research efforts.<\/p>\n

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Briefing cards serve as critical tools for communication within governmental organizations. They are typically concise, organized documents designed to quickly and effectively brief officials about various subjects. They may contain key talking points, essential facts, prepared responses to anticipated questions, or any other information that may help an official communicate effectively about a topic.<\/p>\n

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The release of the AOIMSG-related briefing cards thus offers a window into the thought processes, priorities, and strategies of the DoD as it established and structured the AOIMSG. It provides invaluable insights into how the DoD has been approaching the mystery of UAP and how it has been organizing its efforts to investigate these phenomena.<\/p>\n

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The documents reveal the complexities involved in establishing such a group, including the need for careful coordination, clarity of purpose, and strategic management of information. They also reflect how the DoD has renamed and restructured the groups involved in UAP research over time, in response to evolving needs and understanding. That fact also highlights one of the biggest challenges trying to decipher every facet of the DoD’s UAP investigative efforts, largely due to the continually changing nomenclature and structure of the groups involved in UAP research. The evolution of these groups, while a natural part of the process, can make it difficult to track the DoD’s ongoing efforts and to understand the precise role and mandate of each group.<\/p>\n

Despite this, the release of the AOIMSG-related documents sheds light on the DoD’s ongoing efforts to better understand and manage UAP. The insights gleaned from these documents can help enhance public understanding of these efforts and foster a more informed conversation about the government’s role in investigating UAP. They also highlight the frustrations by internal senior defense officials who do not necessarily want to deal with the UAP issue.<\/p>\n

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Matthew Cummings, Senior Advisor for MASINT, GEOINT, and Special Programs at Office of the Secretary of Defense U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In September of 2022, The Black Vault profiled<\/a> Matthew Cummings, Senior Advisor for MASINT, GEOINT, and Special Programs at Office of the Secretary of Defense U.S. DoD, who’s name came up in previous FOIA requests<\/a>. It was established then that Cummings played a role in the early days of the AOIMSG, but as of the writing of that article last year, that exact role was unknown, until now.<\/p>\n

In these newly released records, it was revealed that Cummings was the acting director of the AOIMSG, and that fact was withheld from the public, according to these documents.<\/p>\n

In addition, the same email dated December 9, 2021, written by a redacted name, outlined that Cummings was “not thrilled” about the fact that DoD Public Affairs recommended a “backgrounder for media” to help “further [DoD] efforts to normalize, standardize, and destigmatize reporting on UAP\/airborne objects in military airspace.”<\/p>\n

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This release of the OSD(PA) Briefing Cards and other AOIMSG-related documents offers a valuable peek inside the inner workings of the DoD’s UAP research efforts. As we continue to decode the wealth of information contained in these documents, we can look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in investigating the unidentified.<\/p>\n

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Document Archive<\/h3>\n

May 2023 Release<\/h4>\n

Department of Defense Releases AOIMSG-Related Documents<\/a>, May 2023 [33 Pages, 6.5MB]<\/p>\n