The New Modern Era, Part Two: The History of AATIP
This early draft chapter on the history of AATIP, drawn from our forthcoming book Heaven and Earth still bears the marks of work in progress. Yet we hope it offers a meaningful glimpse into our continuing exploration of conscious intelligence. If you missed our earlier preview, we invite you to revisit our blog on the history of AAWSAP, which lays the foundation for what follows. This draft pre-copywritten Library of Congress. 2025.
By Michael and James Hall
AI-generated conceptual depiction conducted by James Hall of key AATIP figures in a secure Pentagon conference room. Luis Elizondo, Jay Stratton, Dr. Hal Puthoff, Dr. Eric W. Davis, Dr. Christopher “Kit” Green and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Christopher Mellon review multi-sensor case files and threat assessments. The scene reflects AATIP’s defense-focused work circa 2010–2017 and is an interpretive, historically inspired rendering rather than a record of a specific meeting.
In a recent interview, Drs. James Lacatski and Colm Kelleher framed the assessment of UAP threats around two central concepts: capacity and intent. Both concurred that UAPs possess the capacity to pose a national security risk, yet neither identified conclusive evidence of hostile intent—they did however stress their apparent ability to manipulate human perception. In this context, AATIP would transcend AAWSAP in analyzing the specter of a national security threat. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow7FqiegixQ.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow7FqiegixQ.)
As we saw in the previous chapter, AAWSAP launched in 2008 under the Defense Intelligence Agency with roughly $22 million in funding. Its charter split into two tracks: one studying UAP propulsion characteristics, the other examining their effects on human cognition and physiology. That broad mandate even encompassed paranormal phenomena and anomalous cognition until senior defense officials grew wary of the human-effects aspect by 2010.
With AAWSAP’s budget evaporating by 2011, Senator Harry Reid’s 2009 recommendation for an advanced aerospace program provided a lifeline. Out of this shifting landscape emerged the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). Although AATIP inherited select personnel as advisors and some case files from AAWSAP, it was structured as a distinct initiative, narrowing its focus to threat analysis and defense applications in response to military pilot encounters.
Originally housed in the DIA and later overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, AATIP concentrated on unexplained aerial phenomena reported by service members. Under the guidance of Jay Stratton—a veteran of both programs—and counterintelligence specialist Luis Elizondo, AATIP honed its mission on identifying “disruptive technologies” and actionable aerospace threats.
During AAWSAP’s waning days, UAP research backers had searched for new sponsors, briefly considering the Department of Homeland Security. Internal proposals under the code name KONA BLUE secured early approval from the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology in 2011 but were later rejected by the DHS Deputy Secretary for lacking sufficient data. No formal DHS program or funding ever materialized, leaving AAWSAP advocates in limbo.
The exact nature of AATIP’s birth remains the subject of debate. Some former participants suggest it functioned more as a rebranding of AAWSAP than a formal DIA sub‐office, while others—including Elizondo—describe a strategic narrative shift that leveraged an “advanced propulsion” banner to regain political backing. This interpretation fills gaps left by budget records but cannot be conclusively proven through available documentation.
Dr. Lacatski and Dr, Kelleher maintain that AATIP’s origins were never fully shared with them, however the term was initially used as a type of nickname or cover name for AAWSAP.
Ultimately, AATIP’s survival rested less on strong institutional mandates and more on the dedication of its key actors. Elizondo and Stratton guided AATIP through tight resources and Pentagon bureaucracy, focusing relentlessly on pilot safety and potential incursions into US airspace. Dr. Eric Davis joined as a consultant, contributing expertise in breakthrough physics and advanced propulsion, including warp drive theories and quantum vacuum energy. Davis and AAWSAP veteran Dr. Hal Puthoff also explored exotic materials. AATIP engaged bio-medical contractors as well, including the now-prominent immunologist and government consultant Dr. Garry P. Nolan. Christopher Mellon—former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence—emerged as a strong supporter as well.
The transition from AAWSAP to AATIP was far from linear. Thus, AAWSAP’s broad remit gave way to AATIP’s narrower, defense‐oriented mission, yet both initiatives shared investigative DNA, personnel, and a drive to understand unexplained aerial phenomena. In the end, it was the persistence of these individuals—more than any formal policy directive—that ensured continued UAP threat analysis within the Department of Defense.
Elizondo collaborated with Dr. Puthoff and Dr. Davis, as well as Stratton, in developing theoretical frameworks. During this period, the group identified and codified five observable characteristics commonly associated with UAPs. These have since become foundational in the field and are listed as follows:
1. Instantaneous Acceleration – UAPs appear to move at extreme speeds with no gradual buildup, defying conventional
aerospace mechanics.
2. Hypersonic Velocity Without Signatures – Unlike traditional aircraft, UAPs can travel at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+)
without producing a sonic boom or detectable heat signatures.
3. Low Observability (Cloaking or Stealth) – UAPs frequently exhibit transparency, distortions, or sudden
disappearances, possibly due to active camouflage or gravitational lensing effects.
4. Transmedium Travel – UAPs can seamlessly transition between air, water, and even space without losing velocity or
showing signs of propulsion.
5. Anti-Gravity or Lift Without Means of Propulsion – UAPs seem to move without traditional aerodynamic controls,
showing no wings, exhaust plumes, or propulsion systems.
These observables, transmedium being the most talked about aspect of the phenomenon today, suggest propulsion and flight technologies far beyond known human capabilities, fueling speculation about breakthrough aerospace engineering and NHI.
A good example of transmedium travel is found in a case that remains unexplained to this day.
2013, April 25
On the evening of April 25, 2013, at approximately 9:20 PM local time, a US Customs and Border Protection aircraft—operating under the Department of Homeland Security—took off from Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico for a routine surveillance mission. Shortly after departure, the crew spotted a reddish-pink light moving rapidly over the ocean toward the airport. Air traffic control confirmed visual contact but could not identify the object. As the light extinguished, the crew switched to infrared mode using a WESCAM MX-15 thermal imaging system and began tracking the object, which flew low across the airport twice before heading back toward the ocean.
What followed was extraordinary: the object descended into the water without slowing or creating a conventional splash, then re-emerged moments later and appeared to split into two distinct objects that continued moving horizontally before vanishing. Analysts later estimated its speed between 80 and 120 mph, with no visible propulsion, aerodynamic surfaces, or radar returns. The footage showed consistent thermal signatures and transmedium behavior—crossing seamlessly between air and water—prompting review by independent researchers and AATIP-affiliated analysts. The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) concluded that the object defied conventional explanation and demonstrated capabilities beyond known aircraft or natural phenomena, making it one of the most compelling UAP cases of the AATIP era.
AATIP was intently interested in propulsion theories. They discussed the possibility that UAPs may utilize gravitational lensing as part of their propulsion or cloaking mechanisms. While there is no definitive proof, their descriptions suggest that UAPs might manipulate space-time in ways that resemble known gravitational lensing effects. Gravitational lensing occurs when a massive object, such as a black hole or galaxy, warps the fabric of space-time, bending light around it. This effect can magnify or distort objects behind the gravitational source. In the context of UAPs, Puthoff and Elizondo have speculated that:
· UAPs may generate localized distortions in space-time, allowing them to appear to "blink" in and out of
visibility.
· Light bending around UAPs could explain why they sometimes appear as shimmering or translucent
objects.
· Extreme acceleration without traditional propulsion might be possible if UAPs manipulate gravitational
fields rather than relying on conventional aerodynamics. Puthoff’s Perspective
Dr. Puthoff has suggested that UAPs might exploit zero-point energy or exotic propulsion methods that involve space-time distortions. His work at EarthTech International in the 1980s and 90s had explored whether advanced aerospace technologies could mimic gravitational lensing effects to achieve near-instantaneous movement. Elizondo based observables on real life encounters where UAPs appeared to defy conventional physics, including:
· Sudden disappearances and reappearances, possibly due to localized space-time distortions.
· Extreme acceleration without sonic booms, suggesting a propulsion method that bypasses atmospheric
resistance.
· Visual distortions around UAPs, which could be linked to gravitational lensing effects.
While these ideas still remain speculative, they align with broader discussions about warp drive concepts, quantum vacuum fluctuations, and advanced aerospace technologies. A decade later, Elizondo’s earlier leadership in AATIP would take UAP studies into mainstream defense discussions, ultimately leading to public discussions and congressional hearings on the topic that continue to this day.
Recently, sketchy but intriguing information has surfaced regarding other confidential discussion from the AATIP era. This may have involved Dr. Christopher “Kit” Green who served AATIP as a senior scientific consultant, drawing on his MD and PhD in neuroscience and decades of experience as a CIA medical analyst. As in AAWSAP, he advised the program on the physiological, neurological, and anomalous‐cognition aspects of UAP encounters—helping to interpret pilot reports of disorientation or physical effects, evaluate any available biometric data, and assess whether observed phenomena might involve non-terrestrial materials.
Multiple sources suggest that AATIP associates assembled briefing materials intended to persuade DOD leadership that UAPs posed a serious national security concern. Their goal appears to have been to secure formal recognition and dedicated funding for the project. This may well be the context behind the mysterious “Slide 9”—a fascinating and controversial element in the broader narrative surrounding AATIP’s history. The reference to Slide 9 comes from leaked materials, both unofficial or semi-official which have sparked significant debate in both government circles and the public sphere. Slide 9 itself is said to outline a series of unusual capacities or threats identified by AATIP in addition to the ones just covered in the previous pages.
These include:
· Threat Scenario Description:
The slide is purported to list a series of capabilities that an adversary might possess—ranging from the manipulation of both physical and cognitive environments to advanced forms of what are sometimes described as “psychotronic weapons.”
· Capabilities Listed:
Among these are the abilities to penetrate US facilities, influence decision makers, and compromise national security through technologies or phenomena that impact not just the physical world but also the cognitive and biological realms. This includes aspects like instantaneous sensor disassembly and anomalies related to a space/time construct.
· Underlying Implications:
The language used even hints at a parallel with concepts found in certain Eastern traditions—ideas loosely analogous to “siddhis” or enhanced capacities achieved through intense mental practices. Essentially, it implies that what was once thought to belong solely to the realm of science fiction might have a basis in either emerging quantum understandings or covert experimental programs.
Many contend that Slide 9 may have been crafted to pique the interest of key stakeholders in hopes of securing funding for continued research. Its language is widely regarded as provocative—laden with implications that appear designed more to capture attention than to offer a rigorous scientific explanation. Ross Coulthart, the investigative journalist and author, has been a prominent voice exploring this narrative in both his UAP-focused book and numerous public lectures. During a News Nation Q&A Reality Check broadcast on June 15, 2025, Coulthart suggested that Slide 9 originated from leaked documents tied to Christopher Mellon. These, he said, were part of a briefing slideshow assembled by Luis Elizondo’s AATIP team and prepared for then–Under Secretary of Defense Thomas B. Modly. (Ross Coulthart statement on News Nation Q&A Reality Check, June 15, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aWmclpm4w4.)
His investigative work has focused on dissecting the content, context, and implications of these slides linked to UAP briefings. Coulthart’s approach typically examines not only the literal content of Slide 9 but also its broader significance in discussions about unconventional technology, cognitive influence, and potential national security concerns. He has highlighted how the wording of the slide suggests capabilities that seem to transcend traditional aerial phenomena, stirring both intrigue and skepticism within the UAP research community.
It's important to note that while Ross Coulthart’s investigations have brought widespread attention to the story, the narrative around Slide 9 remains one of intense debate. Many experts argue that such materials might partly be fuel for further investment in research programs—or even elements of strategic disinformation—while others see them as precious clues in an ongoing exploration of phenomena that defy conventional physics. Coulthart’s work is significant because it not only informs the public but also frames these revelations within a broader historical and geopolitical context, inviting viewers to question and critically assess the veracity and implications of such claims.
The prominence of Slide 9 in these debates goes beyond just the technical details; it symbolizes a broader, very human curiosity about the unknown and how governments handle information that challenges established scientific and military paradigms. Whether taken as a genuine disclosure of enemy capabilities or as clever disinformation intended to obscure cutting-edge weapons programs, Slide 9 continues to fuel discussions about national security, emerging technologies, and the very nature of consciousness and reality.
Based on several recent interviews and discussions, Dr. Garry Nolan has alluded to Slide 9 as a controversial reference from an internal DOD briefing or presentation. Although he hasn’t typically recited the entire text verbatim in public forums, here are the key points he has conveyed:
· Sensitive Content:
Dr. Nolan has suggested that Slide 9 contains a warning or an outline of a “DoD Threat Scenario.” The slide reportedly details how an adversary might possess the capability to manipulate not only physical environments but also human perception. This manipulation could, in theory, be used to compromise US facilities, influence decision-makers, and ultimately threaten national security.
· The ‘Woo’ Factor:
In discussing the broader implications of UAP phenomena, Nolan noted that the ideas in Slide 9 straddle the line between hard strategic concerns and what some dismiss as the “woo” aspect of the subject. His commentary implies that, regardless of the skepticism that often surrounds such accounts, the potential for reality—specifically, human perception—to be altered is a matter of genuine concern.
· Institutional Reaction:
While on one occasion an offhand reference to material like that on Slide 9 reportedly led to pushback from government officials (anecdotes of which he has shared on separate occasions), Nolan’s overall message is that despite appearing outlandish to some, the concepts covered by the slide merit serious discussion from both scientific and security perspectives.
It's important to note that while these remarks have appeared in various interviews and podcasts—including discussions that have framed Slide 9 as a key piece of sensitive information—the full details of the slide remain largely confined to internal documents and have not been independently corroborated in public records.
To us as authors, Slide 9 perfectly illustrates why the UAP/NHI phenomenon so often adopts paranormal or metaphysical labels. On the surface, these incidents can appear to be mere “nuts-and-bolts” craft—but there is a deeper dimension at work. When guided by non-human intelligence, UAP vehicles seem capable of altering our sensory perception of the material world and even influencing consciousness. Decades of consistent reports attest to the reality of this effect.
Unlike AAWSAP, AATIP operated without dedicated funding or a full-time staff. Luis Elizondo and Jay Stratton, supported only by a handful of consultants, maintained the program largely through personal initiative and professional commitment—often balancing its work alongside other official duties.
By 2017, AATIP’s core team—led by Luis Elizondo and Jay Stratton—was working only part-time, juggling the program alongside other intelligence duties. With no dedicated funding or full-time staff, morale dipped as long-standing, legacy special-access projects within the Pentagon often resisted any expansion of UAP investigations. At the same time, a small faction of senior military and intelligence officials—whom Elizondo dubs the “Collins Elite”—viewed UAPs through a theological lens, interpreting them as demonic or intentionally deceptive entities. According to Elizondo, Devon Woods of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told him, “There is no reason we should be looking into this. We already know what they are and where they come from. They are deceivers. Demons.” (Luis R. “Lue” Elizondo, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs (New York: TarcherPerigee, 2024), 205.
(The origin of the “Collins Elite” nickname is itself anecdotal. In his 2010 book Final Events and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs, Nick Redfern describes how these officials—many tracing their roots to a small town named Collins—joked that, by comparison, they were the “elite” within the defense establishment. No formal records confirm this backstory, and it remains a colorful footnote rather than an official designation.) (https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/15e0ye6/deleted_by_user/.)
By 2017, Luis Elizondo had transferred to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Confronted with entrenched special-access programs resistant to deeper UAP research, AATIP’s patrons became frustrated. Simultaneously, AATIP even further emphasized aerospace safety, threat detection, and national-security implications—language designed to transcend theological objections and bureaucratic inertia. To bolster scientific credibility, the program commissioned white papers and technical studies from respected academics and defense analysts, organized small-scale workshops and classified briefings for DoD stakeholders, and maintained discreet ties with investigative journalists and select think tanks. This dual strategy of quiet, classified inquiry and targeted, public-facing outreach enabled AATIP’s continued activity until its public exposure in late 2017.
2017, October
In October 2017, after years of dedicated service in national security and intelligence, Luis Elizondo resigned from his Pentagon post, citing deep frustration with the Department of Defense’s unwillingness to treat unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) as a legitimate national security concern. He maintained that military encounters had yielded compelling evidence of advanced, unexplained craft—evidence he believed was being systematically ignored. Elizondo submitted a formal resignation memo dated October 3, 2017, but also claimed to have delivered a second letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, warning that senior officials were obstructing proper investigations. The existence and delivery of this second letter remain disputed; Pentagon officials have questioned its authenticity and denied that it reached Mattis directly. While Elizondo’s departure from the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) is well documented, most public accounts simply record his decision to step away amid mounting institutional resistance and bureaucratic inertia.
A month prior to Elizondo’s resignation, in September 2017, internal efforts to consolidate UAP oversight began to take shape under Neill T. Tipton, then Director for Defense Intelligence. Elizondo, who had worked with Tipton in the Information Sharing and Partnership Engagement Office (ISPE) since 2013, welcomed this development. Yet despite Tipton’s ascent—an outcome Elizondo had long championed—he remained deeply frustrated with his immediate supervisor, Garry Reid, Director of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD[I&S]). (No relation to Senator Harry Reid.)
Elizondo has publicly accused Reid of obstructing UAP investigations and misleading the public about AATIP’s scope and findings. In May 2021, Elizondo filed a 64-page complaint with the Department of Defense Inspector General, alleging that Reid orchestrated efforts to discredit him and suppress critical data. Reid was later dismissed following multiple Inspector General inquiries into misconduct, including sexual harassment, favoritism, and fostering a hostile work environment. While UAP-related interference was not officially cited as the cause, it was a central theme in Elizondo’s complaint and in subsequent reporting.
Elizondo’s resignation, coming just weeks after Tipton’s internal elevation, underscores a pivotal transition: while AATIP lost its standalone identity, UAP research did not end—it was absorbed into the Pentagon’s broader intelligence framework. That mantle was soon picked up by Jay Stratton, who led the UAP Task Force and maintained close ties with both Elizondo and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Mellon, ensuring continuity in the evolving effort to investigate and disclose aerial anomalies.
Just weeks before leaving, Elizondo and Christopher Mellon secured a DOPSR (Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review) authorization—dated August 24, 2017, for the “unlimited distribution” of three Navy infrared videos: the 2004 “Tic Tac” (FLIR) footage and two January 2015 clips (“Gimbal” and “Go Fast”). Those videos were later officially released by the Navy on April 27, 2020. (US Defense Department Release, April 27, 2020, https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/) Currently available through https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/.)
Dr. Garry P. Nolan, prominent British-American immunologist, academic, inventor, and business executive claimed he sat with Elizondo the day he resigned (or after) in a pub overlooking the Pentagon and at that time Elizondo detailed to him information concerning the Tic Tack encounter. We do know that during the AATIP period Garry Nolan became very interested in the UAP subject and became an occasional consultant to the US government in classified matters concerning bio-medical issues. Some of this apparently bordered on the UAP issue. Nolan remains a friend of Elizondo and an active voice for serious UAP research to this day. (Dr. Garry Nolan interview by Robinson Erhardt, March, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpJebYW_vb4&t=9465s.)
(Dr. Garry P. Nolan currently holds the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professorship in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Throughout his career, Nolan has made significant contributions to immunology, particularly in areas such as autoimmunity, inflammation, and systems immunology, while also founding several biotechnology companies. In recent years, he has gained attention in ufology circles for his public statements on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and claims regarding extraterrestrial intelligence, which have positioned him as a somewhat controversial figure in that domain.)
After departing the OUSDI, Elizondo joined forces with Christopher Mellon and Hal Puthoff to quietly surface pivotal UAP information. They collaborated with Jay Stratton—who remained in government service until 2020 to oversee AATIP’s successor program—thereby preserving the investigative thread. To amplify the seriousness of their findings, the trio enlisted journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, each renowned for navigating sensitive disclosures with journalistic precision. Ralph Blumenthal played a pivotal role in legitimizing UAP discourse through investigative journalism that bridged fringe speculation and mainstream credibility. A longtime New York Times reporter, Blumenthal co-authored the landmark 2017 article with Leslie Kean and Helene Cooper that revealed the Pentagon’s secret UAP program. Elizondo, Mellon, Puthoff, and Kean coordinated approach started a chain of events in motion that still continue.
2017, December 16
Luis Elizondo emerged as a central figure in the Pentagon’s investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena, having led the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) until his resignation in 2017. His public disclosures—alongside colleagues like Christopher Mellon and Hal Puthoff—helped ignite congressional interest and media scrutiny, ultimately catalyzing the formation of the UAP Task Force.
AI-generated conceptual depiction conducted by James Hall
Their co-authored The New York Times exposé in 2017 cracked open the veil of secrecy surrounding the Pentagon’s secret UAP initiative, lending mainstream legitimacy to the issue and igniting public pressure that soon rippled through Congress. What followed was electric: a cultural shift in how unidentified aerial phenomena were perceived—not as fringe curiosities, but as a credible national security concern. Headlines heralded UAPs as a serious subject for the first time in decades, sparking debates on cable news and major newspapers. Congressional offices were flooded with constituent inquiries which was apparently the groundswell Elizondo, Mellon, Puthoff, and Kean had aimed to ignite. (Full special: Confessions of a UFO Hunter, News Nation, August 26, 2024, https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/special-report-confessions-of-a-ufo-hunter/.)
(AATIP remained publicly unknown until its existence was revealed by The New York Times on December 16, 2017. That landmark article, while groundbreaking, did not fully clarify the complex relationship between AATIP and its predecessor, the Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Application Program (AAWSAP), leading to persistent confusion about the two entities. AAWSAP, initiated in 2007 under the Defense Intelligence Agency with funding secured by Senator Harry Reid, focused on a broader range of phenomena—including paranormal events—before transitioning into the more narrowly defined AATIP. In 2025, many of AATIP’s original “dream team” members—Luis Elizondo, Christopher Mellon, Dr. Hal Puthoff, Dr. Eric Davis, and Dr. Garry Nolan—reunited to launch the UAP Disclosure Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting transparency, scientific inquiry, and legislative reform around unidentified anomalous phenomena. They have been joined intermittently by other key figures from the program’s lineage, including Jim Semivan, Dr. James Lacatski, Jay Stratton, and Dr. Travis Taylor. Each continues to play a prominent role in shaping the public discourse on UAPs, whether through scientific research, media engagement, or policy advocacy.)
2017-2020 AATIP to UAPTF
According to whistleblower accounts and Stratton’s own public statements, these interim efforts focused heavily on data collection and technical analysis but were constrained by limited access to classified programs that may have held deeper insights. The December 2017 New York Times exposé—featuring Elizondo, Christopher Mellon, and Hal Puthoff—sparked a surge in congressional interest. In response, Stratton’s superiors at ONI tasked him with leading engagement efforts with lawmakers and oversight committees. This move aligned with Elizondo’s broader push for transparency, leveraging public and legislative pressure to compel the Pentagon to take UAPs more seriously.
Stratton served in all three major government efforts: the AAWSAP initiative under Bigelow Aerospace, its Pentagon successor AATIP, and the ODNI-led UAP Task Force. Serving as the effective operational director of UAPTF, Stratton helped shape the federal response to unexplained aerial phenomena from within the intelligence community.
AI-generated conceptual depiction conducted by James Hall.
Following Lue Elizondo’s departure from the Department of Defense in October 2017, efforts to investigate UAP continued informally within the Pentagon. Key figures from AATIP—notably John “Jay” Stratton—played a pivotal role in sustaining momentum. Stratton, a career intelligence officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence, demonstrated strategic foresight by establishing an internal engagement office as early as 2018. This initiative facilitated coordination with congressional and interagency stakeholders, effectively laying the groundwork for what would become the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), formally launched in August 2020.
2021, August
As stated, The Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) was officially established on August 4, 2020, by Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist. It operated under the leadership of the Department of the Navy, with oversight from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Physicist Sean Kirkpatrick was appointed its inaugural director, tasked with standardizing UAP data collection and reporting across military services. Jay Stratton, a senior intelligence official with prior involvement in AATIP and AAWSAP, played a key operational role, though his formal title within the Task Force remains unconfirmed. He was reportedly joined by Dr. Travis Taylor and Sarah Gamm, an analyst with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency whose work focused on evaluating classified imagery and multisensory data. Gamm contributed to refining analytic protocols and integrating legacy insights from earlier programs. The Task Force also included David Grusch, a senior intelligence officer affiliated with both NGA and the National Reconnaissance Office, who officially represented the NRO from 2019 to 2021 and later became a public whistleblower.
While not formally assigned to UAPTF, former AATIP director Lue Elizondo is said to have briefed congressional and DoD stakeholders, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Christopher Mellon reportedly provided informal technical guidance. Physicist Hal Puthoff, known for his work with AAWSAP and AATIP, is believed to have influenced the Task Force’s anomaly-resolution framework. Supporting this core team was a network of congressional and interagency staffers from the Senate and House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, along with personnel from agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Office of Naval Intelligence. These collaborators worked through Stratton’s engagement office to align oversight efforts, share unclassified findings, and coordinate future reporting requirements. Stratton has since stated that the FBI was among his earliest partners, assisting with classified briefings to Congress and remaining a key investigative ally throughout the Task Force’s operations. In November 2021, at the direction of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, the UAPTF was reorganized into the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG). Note below:
Notes: Dr. Travis Taylor is today best known to the public for his appearances on “Ancient Aliens” and “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch”—has also played a quietly influential, genuinely credentialed role inside US government UAP inquiries. Between roughly 2008 and 2013 he consulted intermittently for the Defense Intelligence Agency’s AAWSAP effort, offering niche expertise in exotic propulsion concepts and sensor R&D while AATIP compiled its now-famous set of technical reports. In 2019 Jay Stratton, then heading the Navy-led Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), recruited Taylor as chief scientist, giving him TS/SCI access and tasking him to forensically analyze the July 2019 “West Coast swarm” incidents. Taylor’s data-driven brief concluded the objects could not be written off as hobby drones, and his findings helped tighten the Navy’s UAP reporting protocols. Over 2019-2021 he co-built the UAPTF’s classified data lake, standardized metadata fields that later migrated to AARO, and co-authored the June 2021 Preliminary Assessment that landed on congressional desks. When the Pentagon began morphing UAPTF into AOIMSG (the short-lived bridge organization before AARO), Taylor stayed on contract as a senior adviser through early 2023, drafting technical annexes that informed the FY 2021 NDAA language championed by the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees. His government role remained classified until May 2022, when he publicly revealed it on the Skinwalker Ranch TV series, after which he and Stratton criticized certain Pentagon briefers for down-playing swarm cases. While skeptics point to his television persona, colleagues confirm his long-standing clearances and deep RF / directed-energy knowledge; equally, no evidence places him inside any legacy crash-retrieval SAPs—his access appears confined to sensor data, pilot debriefs, and technical intelligence collected by the task-force lineage.
Sarah Gamm earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astrophysics from Missouri State University and went on to complete a Master of Science in Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. Her academic training fused rigorous astrophysical theory with practical expertise in nonproliferation and WMD strategy. Her background includes the position of Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin and the National Reconnaissance Office, where she supported satellite operations; image scientist and analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, specializing in Synthetic Aperture Radar and satellite imagery—co-authoring a landmark study on Mosul Dam monitoring that blended satellite data with ground truth. She also served as a Nuclear Campaign Analyst at the Pentagon, advising the US Air Force on strategic nuclear deterrence initiatives under high-level security clearances. In interviews and podcasts, Gamm has stated that some UAP cases she reviewed led her to conclude they were of non‑human origin.
Looking ahead to Part Three, the AOIMSG itself has since been succeeded by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), expanding the mission to include anomalies in maritime and space domains as well as airspace. Continuous budget increases and congressional oversight hearings suggest that UAP research remains a high priority across multiple defense and intelligence communities.