Published on April 16, 2024
Congressional Briefing Packet:
AARO Briefing on Historical Review and New Leadership
This briefing booklet is prepared for the Congressional members who will engage with the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) regarding the recent historical report and the ongoing investigations into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). The briefing to shed light on the discrepancies and inconsistencies in AARO's findings, the dismissal of compelling witness testimony, and the broader implications for transparency and accountability within the Department of Defense's efforts to understand the UAP phenomenon. It is crucial, especially in the wake of the explosive release of files related to a prospective special access program Kona Blue on April 16th, 2024, that Congress is fully prepared to extract clear, unambiguous information during this briefing.
Disclaimer: Throughout this document, various terms such as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), non-human intelligence (NHI), technologies of unknown origin (TUO), anomalous aerial vehicles (AAV), and off-world technologies are used. While these terms might seem distinct, they are used interchangeably to reference the same overarching concept. Due to the lack of a universally accepted definition for these technologies, all questions in this document are framed to encompass any naming convention, whether specifically mentioned or implied, including but not limited to those listed above.
Introduction
The establishment of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in July 2022 marked a significant step forward in the U.S. government's efforts to investigate and understand Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). As a successor to the Navy's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), AARO was tasked with standardizing the collection and reporting of UAP incidents across the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. government at large.
In March 2024, AARO released its highly anticipated Historical Record Review Vol. 1, which aimed to provide a comprehensive account of the U.S. government's involvement with UAP since 1945. The report, based on interviews, research, and analysis of historical records, concluded that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or non-human intelligence in any of the investigated cases.
However, the report's findings have been met with skepticism and criticism from various stakeholders, including members of Congress, UAP researchers, and the general public. Many have pointed out apparent contradictions and inconsistencies in the report, as well as its seeming dismissal of compelling witness testimony and evidence.
The release of the AARO report has also coincided with a series of explosive allegations made by David Grusch, a former intelligence officer and member of the UAP Task Force. Grusch has claimed, under oath, that the U.S. government has been in possession of recovered non-human spacecraft and has been engaging in a decades-long program to reverse-engineer this technology, all while keeping Congress and the public in the dark.
Grusch's allegations, along with the lingering questions surrounding the AARO report, have only intensified the public's demand for transparency and accountability on the UAP issue. As AARO prepares to brief members of the House in a classified setting, it is essential that representatives come prepared with pointed, relevant questions that can help shed light on the discrepancies and gaps in the information provided thus far.
The following list of questions, curated from the concerns and demands of the UAP research community and the public at large, aims to address some of the most pressing issues surrounding AARO's investigation and the broader UAP phenomenon. By seeking clear, direct answers to these questions, members of Congress can help ensure that the truth about UAP is brought to light and that the U.S. government is held accountable for its actions and policies in this critical domain.
Community-Sourced Questions
The following questions have been carefully selected to address the most pressing concerns and inconsistencies surrounding AARO's investigation, its historical report, and the broader UAP phenomenon. While the public's demand for answers is understandable and justified, it is essential to recognize that AARO, as a government office, may be constrained by various factors, including national security considerations, classified information, and ongoing investigations.
As such, these questions have been crafted to strike a balance between the need for transparency and the realistic expectations of what can be disclosed in a limited briefing format. The aim is to elicit clear, substantive responses from AARO representatives, while also acknowledging the potential for pushback or evasion on certain sensitive topics.
It is the responsibility of the Congressional members present to press for direct, unambiguous answers and to challenge any attempts to obfuscate or sidestep the critical issues at hand. The American people deserve nothing less than a full and honest accounting of the UAP phenomenon, its implications, and the government's response to it.
Eglin Air Force Base Incident (January 2023):
Can you provide details on the incident at Eglin Air Force Base in January 2023, where an Air Force pilot reportedly recorded an acorn-shaped UAP?
What were the characteristics and behavior of the object, and what conclusions, if any, has AARO reached regarding this incident?
Nimitz Encounter (2004):
Has AARO conducted a thorough investigation into the 2004 Nimitz encounter, including interviews with the pilots and crew members involved?
What are AARO's conclusions regarding the nature and origin of the "Tic Tac" object encountered during this incident, and what evidence supports these conclusions?
Truly Anomalous Cases:
AARO has stated that 2-4% of investigated cases are considered "truly anomalous." Can you provide a detailed report focusing specifically on these cases, including the characteristics and behavior of the objects involved?
Do the recent drone incursions over Langley Air Force Base fit the profile of these truly anomalous cases?
KONA BLUE Proposal and CIA Denial:
Why did AARO dismiss testimony from multiple whistleblowers regarding a proposal to transfer non-human intelligence (NHI) technology from Lockheed Martin to BAASS/AAWSAP, known as "KONA BLUE"?
Why did AARO accept the denial from a CIA employee who allegedly shut down the proposal, according to the whistleblowers?
Underwater UAP (USO) Cases:
Can AARO provide five examples of underwater UAP (USO) cases that demonstrate unusual characteristics, such as exceptional speed and sudden directional changes?
What conclusions has AARO reached regarding the nature and origin of these USOs, and what evidence supports these conclusions?
Gimbal Footage and Public Release:
Where is the remaining footage from the Gimbal and other UAP incidents, and when will it be released to the public?
If the footage cannot be released, what are the specific reasons for withholding it?
AARO's Access to Information:
How does AARO's level of access to classified information compare to that of the Gang of Eight and the rest of Congress?
If AARO lacks full access to relevant information, does this undermine the office's ability to effectively investigate and understand the UAP phenomenon?
Danny Sheehan Testimony and Chris Mellon Critique:
What is the result of Danny Sheehan's testimony to AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick, and how has this testimony informed AARO's investigation?
How does AARO respond to the critiques of its report raised by former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Christopher Mellon?
Eglin AFB UAP Photos:
Where are the photos of the UAP that Rep. Matt Gaetz reportedly saw at Elgin AFB, which he claimed convinced him that he had seen an anomalous craft?
Has AARO reviewed these photos, and if so, what conclusions have been reached regarding the nature and origin of the object depicted?
Missing Nimitz/Tic Tac Incident Deck Logs:
Why are the deck logs from the USS Princeton, pertaining to the 2004 Nimitz/Tic Tac incident, missing from the National Archives?
What efforts has AARO made to locate these missing logs and to understand the reason for their absence?
Nimitz and Princeton Crew Member Interviews:
Will AARO commit to reaching out to the numerous crew members from the USS Nimitz and USS Princeton who have come forward publicly to share their experiences during the 2004 Tic Tac incident?
How will the testimony of these crew members be incorporated into AARO's ongoing investigation of the Nimitz encounter?
Onsite Investigations of UAP Research Locations:
If a first-hand whistleblower provides the names of employees and locations where UAP research is allegedly taking place, will AARO commit to visiting these locations and interviewing the named individuals under oath?
What protocols and safeguards will be put in place to ensure the security and confidentiality of these investigations?
AARO's Senior Technical Advisory Board (STAG):
Who are the members of AARO's Senior Technical Advisory Board (STAG), and what are their respective areas of expertise?
How were these individuals selected, and what role do they play in guiding AARO's investigative efforts?
Metallic Orbs Update:
Can AARO provide an update on the "metallic orbs" that Dr. Kirkpatrick mentioned as being "all over the world" in May 2023?
Is AARO still observing these orbs, and what steps are being taken to identify their nature and origin?
Are these orbs related to the recent "drone" incursions at military bases?
UAP Characteristics and Current Scientific Understanding:
Does AARO acknowledge that the characteristics of certain UAP are not explainable by the current level of human scientific understanding?
If not, why does AARO maintain that all UAP can be explained by known scientific principles?
If AARO does acknowledge the existence of seemingly inexplicable UAP characteristics, whose technology or scientific understanding might these characteristics be attributable to?
AAWSAP Files and Classified Project Blue Book Files:
Has AARO reviewed the files generated by the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), which, according to Dr. Colm Kelleher, contain a wealth of information on various UAP cases?
Has AARO examined the classified portion of the Project Blue Book files, and if so, what insights have been gleaned from this review?
Langley AFB Drone Swarm Characteristics:
What are the specific characteristics of the "drones" that recently swarmed Langley AFB, and how do these characteristics compare to those of known drone technologies?
Has AARO determined the origin and purpose of these drones, and what measures are being taken to prevent similar incursions in the future?
AARO Testimony on David Grusch's Allegations:
Will representatives from AARO commit to testifying under oath regarding the allegations made by David Grusch, particularly concerning the existence of non-human technology and the U.S. government's alleged efforts to reverse-engineer it?
What specific steps has AARO taken to investigate these allegations?
Nuclear Facility Intrusions and Whistleblower Interviews:
According to whistleblower testimony, there have been numerous intrusions by UAP at nuclear facilities. What actions has AARO taken to investigate these incidents in the wake of these interviews?
What measures are being implemented to secure these critical facilities against potential UAP incursions in the future?
Evidence of Truly Anomalous Events:
What concrete evidence, if any, does AARO possess of truly anomalous UAP events that demonstrate characteristics beyond the capabilities of known human technology?
Will AARO commit to providing this evidence, with appropriate classification and redaction as necessary, to Congress and the public for independent review and analysis?