All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)

Analysis of Explained and Unexplained Phenomena

Executive Summary

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), established in July 2022 within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense, represents the most comprehensive and methodologically rigorous government effort to investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) in all domains—air, sea, space, and transmedium environments. As of October 2024, AARO has received 1,652 UAP reports and has resolved approximately half through conventional explanations, while the remainder remain either unexplained due to insufficient data or potentially anomalous. The office operates under a rigorous scientific and intelligence analysis framework mandated by Congress, with explicit directives to investigate claims of government secrecy regarding reverse-engineering programs and recovered extraterrestrial technology.wikipedia+2​

Organizational Structure and Mandate

Establishment and Evolutionary Context

AARO emerged from the successor organization to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), which operated from 2020-2021 under the Office of Naval Intelligence. The formal establishment occurred through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 (50 U.S.C. § 3373), responding to increased congressional and public scrutiny regarding government transparency on UAP matters. The office was further codified through the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2022 (50 U.S.C. § 3373a), which mandated quarterly classified reporting to Congress beginning June 2022.wikipedia​

The organizational infrastructure underwent significant evolution with Sean Kirkpatrick serving as the inaugural director from July 2022 through December 2023, followed by Timothy A. Phillips as acting director, and currently Jon T. Kosloski as director since August 2024. This leadership transition reflects the office’s maturation and evolving priorities.meritalk+2​

Organizational Framework and Functional Areas

AARO’s organizational structure comprises four primary functional divisions:aaro+1​

1. Operations Division: Responsible for surveillance, collection, and recording of UAP data across DoD’s special use airspace and anomalous detections in maritime, space, airborne, submerged, and transmedia domains. This division manages the critical infrastructure for standardizing reporting across military services globally.wikipedia​

2. Analysis Division: Oversees integrated intelligence operations and comprehensive analysis applying both scientific method and intelligence tradecraft standards. The division manages the critical intelligence prioritization and governance structures for determining national security implications.aaro​

3. Science & Technology Division: Drives scientific analyses in compliance with the scientific method, advanced analytical approaches, and rigorous peer-review mechanisms. This division manages sensor calibration for improved UAP signature detection and provides consultation with external scientific expertise.aaro​

4. Strategic Communications Division: Manages interagency coordination on UAP public messaging and engages partners and allies regarding AARO’s work and mission.aaro​

Mission and Operational Mandate

AARO’s congressionally defined mission is to “minimize technical and intelligence surprise by synchronizing identification, attribution, and mitigation of UAP in the vicinity of national security areas.” The office operates with explicit authority to review government and contractor records dating back to 1945, investigating claims of potential classified programs involving UAP reverse-engineering that may have been withheld from Congress or the White House.aaro+1​

The office’s six primary focus areas include: surveillance, collection and recording; system capabilities and design; intelligence operations and analysis; mitigation and defeat; governance; and science and technology advancement.wikipedia​

Scientific Methodology and Analytic Framework

Evidence Standards and Processing Hierarchy

AARO employs a hierarchical analytical framework that begins with preliminary data scrubbing of incoming reports. Initial triage categorizes cases into probability-based bins: likely balloons, likely birds, likely other identifiable objects, or unknown. The office then prioritizes cases based on multiple factors including proximity to national security areas, anomalous phenomenology characteristics, observed behavioral patterns, and evidence of potential payload deployment.metabunk​

Dr. Kirkpatrick articulated that “time and again with sufficient scientific quality data it is fact that UAP often but not always resolve into readily explainable sources.” This acknowledgment represents a fundamental principle: resolution correlates directly with data quality and sensor capability. The office emphasizes that “the vast majority of reports almost certainly are the result of misidentification and a direct consequence of the lack of domain awareness; there is a direct correlation between the amount and quality of available information on a case with the ability to conclusively resolve it.”defense+1​

Anomaly Definition and Thresholds

AARO defines anomalous phenomena as “anything that is not readily understandable by the operator or the sensor” and “things that are not readily understandable.” The office recognizes that anomalousness exists on a spectrum and that initial characterization as anomalous does not imply exotic origin. Current assessments identify approximately 2-5% of all cases as potentially anomalous following initial analysis, with even fewer meeting criteria for continued investigation as truly unresolved.abcnews.go+1​

Explained Phenomena: Major Case Resolutions

Quantitative Resolution Summary

Between May 2023 and June 2024, AARO received 757 new UAP reports. Of these, 49 cases were definitively resolved with conclusive identification, while 243 cases were scheduled for closure following additional analysis. The resolution distribution demonstrates the prevalence of conventional explanations: approximately 70% of resolved cases involved balloons, 16% drones, 8% birds, 4% satellites, and 2% aircraft.defensescoop+2​

Over 900 additional reports lack sufficient scientific data for analysis and are retained in an “Active Archive” pending discovery of additional information that might enable future resolution. This archival approach reflects scientific integrity rather than dismissal—recognizing that inadequate data represents a methodological limitation rather than evidence of anomalousness.315aw.afrc.af+1​

Case Study: The “Go Fast” Incident (January 2015)

The “Go Fast” case exemplifies AARO’s analytical methodology for high-profile, publicly documented incidents. Recorded by U.S. Navy F/A-18F pilots using Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensors off Florida’s Atlantic coast, the case initially appeared to show an object moving at extraordinarily high speeds proximate to the ocean surface.aaro+1​

AARO’s analysis demonstrated that initial operator perception systematically misinterpreted the object’s altitude and speed characteristics. The comprehensive investigation employed computational analysis of Navy aircraft flight characteristics and sensor readings, weather data integration, and novel speed and distance calculation methodologies. Key findings included:aaro​

• Corrected Altitude Assessment: Approximately 13,000 feet above sea level rather than the reported near-ocean-surface position

• Speed Reassessment: Approximately 5-92 miles per hour (2-41.3 m/s) when compensating for wind direction contribution, rather than the reported hypersonic speeds

• Wind Correlation: Contemporaneous meteorological data confirmed winds at 69 mph at 13,000 feet; the object’s heading deviation correlated with wind drift patterns

• Confidence Assessment: AARO assessed with high confidence that the object demonstrated no anomalous performance characteristics

This case represents successful resolution through rigorous integration of sensor data, meteorological analysis, and novel analytical techniques applied to incomplete initial observer information.aaro​

Case Study: Mount Etna Object (December 2018)

The Mount Etna case presented compelling superficial features suggesting anomalous behavior: infrared video captured by U.S. military UAS operations near Italian airspace appeared to show an object traversing through a volcanic eruption’s superheated ash and gas plume with no apparent performance degradation.aaro+1​

AARO’s analytical approach employed multiple specialized techniques:armed-services.senate​

• Full-motion video analysis with advanced software platforms

• 3D dimensional modeling incorporating topographic and atmospheric data

• Pixel-level luminosity analysis to determine object distance relationships relative to the ash plume

• Weather pattern integration incorporating historical cloud deck movement and wind speed data

• Volcanologist consultation for eruption plume characterization

The investigation concluded with moderate confidence that the object was a balloon drifting with prevailing winds approximately 170 kilometers from the volcano, not 170 meters as initially misperceived. High confidence assessment concluded that optical effects, turbulent atmospheric conditions, and sensor capability limitations distorted the object’s apparent behavior, leading to inaccurate initial performance assessment. The analysis validated findings through subsequent digital postprocessing that revealed the object where 3D modeling predicted it would appear in visually undetectable frames.aaro+1​

Case Study: Puerto Rico Object (April 2013)

AARO’s investigation of the Puerto Rico case, derived from U.S. Customs and Border Protection infrared sensor data, assessed with high confidence that the objects exhibited no anomalous behavior or transmedium capabilities. The analysis identified moderate confidence assessment that the objects were a pair of sky lanterns, with the apparent “splitting” or “duplication” phenomena representing sensor interpretation of discrete objects rather than unified anomalous behavior.aaro​

Categorical Resolution Patterns

Analysis of resolved cases reveals systematic patterns: balloons represent the largest category due to their meteorological ubiquity and infrared thermal signatures mimicking certain sensor interpretations; birds and animal formations create recurring misidentifications, particularly when observed through infrared modalities that obscure morphological details; commercial and military drones account for substantial percentages in regions with increased unmanned aerial system operations; satellites produce distinctive orbital signatures that require specialized analysis for differentiation from other phenomena.defensescoop​

Material Analysis and Reverse-Engineering Claims

The “Magnesium-Bismuth Specimen” Investigation

AARO contracted with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Department of Energy facility with 80 years of materials science expertise, to conduct comprehensive materials characterization of a specimen publicly alleged to be recovered from a 1947 UAP crash event. The specimen was claimed to exhibit extraordinary properties, including functioning as a terahertz waveguide to generate antigravity capabilities.aaro​

Analytical Methods

ORNL’s investigation employed multiple complementary techniques:aaro​

• Optical microscopy for microstructural imaging

• Computerized tomography (CT scanning) for 3D non-destructive analysis

• Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS)

• Transmission electron microscopy with EDS (TEM-EDS) providing nanometer to subnanometer resolution

• Mass spectrometry techniques for bulk chemical, elemental, and isotopic composition analysis

• Multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for isotopic signature analysis

Findings

The analysis demonstrated that the specimen consisted of magnesium (approximately 97.5%) and zinc (approximately 2%), with minor elements including lead and bismuth, and trace elements including iron, manganese, gold, molybdenum, tin, and barium. Critical findings included:aaro​

• Structural Characteristics: Layered material structure with diverging and merging features, consistent with heat-stressed and mechanically strained terrestrial materials from mid-20th century experimental manufacturing

• Isotopic Signature: Magnesium and lead isotopic compositions consistent with terrestrial manufacturing and industrial applications

• Terahertz Waveguide Assessment: The bismuth layers demonstrated structure and composition that do not meet theoretical requirements for terahertz waveguide functionality

• Terrestrial Origin: All data strongly supported terrestrial origin

AARO’s supplementary analysis noted that “the specimen’s Mg and Pb ratios fall within the standard values for manufactured materials, indicating that it is not a unique or unusual material” and that characteristics are “consistent with Mg alloy research and development projects and experimental manufacturing methods in the mid-20th century.”aaro​

This comprehensive investigation exemplifies AARO’s commitment to rigorous scientific methodology in evaluating extraordinary claims through established materials characterization protocols.

Historical Program Investigation and the Kona Blue Finding

Congressional Mandate and Investigative Scope

AARO received explicit congressional direction (Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA) to conduct a comprehensive historical review examining U.S. government and contractor involvement with UAP from 1945 through 2023, specifically investigating claims regarding recovered extraterrestrial technology, reverse-engineering programs, and allegations that information had been withheld from Congress or the White House.defense​

AARO’s historical investigation accessed classified archives, government programs, military facilities, and conducted formal interviews with approximately 30 individuals who had claimed direct knowledge of classified programs or had witnessed alleged extraterrestrial material recovery and exploitation.theelectricgf+1​

Key Investigative Findings

AARO’s March 2024 Volume I Historical Record Report concluded that “no empirical evidence” supported claims that the U.S. government and private companies have been reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology. The report documented specific findings:defense+1​

• Authenticated Program Misidentification: Interviewees frequently named authentic, highly classified national security programs—well-known and understood by appropriately cleared personnel—but mistakenly associated these programs with alien and extraterrestrial activity

• Incomplete Access: Interviewees and those asserting hidden UAP reverse-engineering programs had incomplete or unauthorized access to these programs, resulting in misinterpretation of program origins and purposes

• Circular Reporting: AARO concluded that “the inaccurate claim that the USG is reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology and is hiding it from Congress is, in large part, the result of circular reporting from a group of individuals who believe this to be the case, despite the lack of any evidence”metabunk​

The Kona Blue Program: A Critical Case Study

Among the most significant historical findings was the identification of the “Kona Blue” program, a Prospective Special Access Program (PSAP) proposed to the Department of Homeland Security in the 2010s. AARO’s discovery of Kona Blue represents a crucial distinction between extraordinary claims and documented historical facts.politico+2​

Historical Origins and Context

Kona Blue originated from advocacy by former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and individuals involved with the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Application Program (AAWSAP, 2009-2012) and the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), both managed by the Defense Intelligence Agency and executed by primary contractor Bigelow Aerospace. AAWSAP/AATIP had been officially terminated by the DIA in 2012 “due to lack of merit and the utility of the deliverables.”aaro+1​

Advocates of AAWSAP/AATIP subsequently proposed to transfer these efforts under the code name “Kona Blue” to the Department of Homeland Security. According to the proposal, Kona Blue would have continued investigation, identification, and analysis of sensitive materials and technologies, including advanced aerospace vehicles, with the explicit purpose of investigating alleged recovered extraterrestrial craft and “non-human biologics.”politico+1​

Program Disposition

In 2011, the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology established Kona Blue as a PSAP based on claims that relevant information and material existed and required such protection. However, six months later, the Deputy Secretary of DHS disapproved Kona Blue as a Special Access Program, directing “its immediate termination citing concerns about the adequacy of justification for the program, and sufficiency of information central to the proposal development, including personnel and budget requirements.”documents2.theblackvault+1​

Critical Finding: No Material Ever Recovered

AARO’s investigation demonstrated a crucial fact: “It is critical to note that while some DHS personnel believed that relevant information and material would be delivered to DHS upon establishment of the SAP, no data or material of [extraterrestrial origin] was ever collected—this material was only assumed to exist by KONA BLUE advocates and its anticipated contract Performers.”documents2.theblackvault+1​

Kona Blue “never received any materials or funding, and there is no information beyond the proposal presentation marked with the KONA BLUE name.” The program was never formally established or approved by DHS leadership, and none of the individuals advocating for the program provided empirical evidence substantiating their claims.politico+1​

Significance for Understanding Reverse-Engineering Narratives

AARO assessed that despite the absence of any recovered extraterrestrial craft, materials, or evidence of reverse-engineering programs, elements within the U.S. government had “proposed to create a Special Access Program under the Department of Homeland Security, to be named ‘Kona Blue’, to reverse engineer any extraterrestrial craft that came into its possession.” Advocates “were convinced that the U.S. government was hiding UAP technologies,” but DHS leaders rejected the proposal as “without merit.” AARO’s report “similarly rejected the claims of Kona Blue’s advocates.”wikipedia​

Additional Historical Claims Assessment

AARO’s investigation addressed numerous specific claims of reverse-engineering and recovered materials, concluding:metabunk​

• An alleged 1961 Special National Intelligence Estimate suggesting extraterrestrial nature of UFOs was determined to be inauthentic

• Claims that former CIA officials managed movement and experimentation on off-world technology were determined inaccurate

• Allegations that military officers touched off-world craft were denied on record by the named officers, who provided alternative explanations for potential misinterpretations

• A piece of metal allegedly recovered from an off-world spacecraft was determined to be “ordinary, of terrestrial origin, and possesses no exceptional qualities”metabunk​

Unexplained and Anomalous Phenomena

Definition and Scope of Unexplained Cases

As of the November 2024 AARO annual report, 21 cases merit continued active investigation due to anomalous characteristics that distinguish them from resolved cases and insufficient data cases. These cases demonstrate features or performance characteristics that require continued analysis but remain scientifically inconclusive.timesnownews+1​

Jon Kosloski, current AARO Director with background in mathematics, physics, engineering, and advanced research at the National Security Agency, acknowledged: “There are interesting cases that I, with my physics and engineering background and time in the [intelligence community], I do not understand. And I don’t know anybody else who understands them either.” This statement reflects scientific humility rather than inexplicable phenomena—distinguishing between current understanding limitations and evidence of exotic origins.aaro+1​

Case Characteristics

The 21 anomalous cases exhibit characteristics including:timesnownews​

• Multiple credible witnesses and corroborating evidence

• Video documentation from military sensors

• Reports occurring over extended time periods

• Behavior inconsistent with conventional aircraft or known platforms

• Proximity to national security sites in multiple instances

• Performance characteristics that appear inconsistent with acknowledged aerospace capabilities

The “Tic-Tac” Incident (2004)

The 2004 incident off the California coast remains among the most compelling and widely discussed unexplained cases. U.S. Navy pilots documented an object through multiple sensor modalities and direct observation. The case involves credible military witnesses, sustained observation periods, and documented performance characteristics that resist conventional explanation.twz+1​

Despite extensive analysis and investigations spanning multiple decades—including review by AARO—the incident has not been conclusively resolved. The case represents the primary exemplar used by government officials and transparency advocates to illustrate the genuinely puzzling nature of UAP phenomena and the necessity for continued scientific investigation.thehill+1​

Middle East “Orb” Case

A 2022 incident involving an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system operating in the Middle East captured infrared imagery of a spherical metallic object. The object’s characteristics and behavior exhibited consistency with other regional “metallic orb” observations, though the limited data prevented conclusive identification.allarab+2​

AARO assessed that the object did not demonstrate anomalous performance characteristics, though the object remains unidentified due to insufficient data. The case exemplifies the challenge of distinguishing between “unidentified” (lacking sufficient identification data) and “anomalous” (exhibiting anomalous characteristics).aaro​

Reports Near National Security Sites

Eighteen instances of UAP sightings occurred in proximity to U.S. nuclear weapons facilities, with ten sightings involving flight durations exceeding five minutes over the designated areas; two sightings reported flight durations approaching one and two hours respectively, each involving one or two UAP. While AARO has not identified “advanced foreign adversarial capabilities or breakthrough aerospace technologies” in these cases, the concentration near sensitive installations warrants continued investigation and analysis.thehill​

Active Archive Cases

Over 900 reports currently reside in AARO’s “Active Archive”—cases lacking sufficient data for conclusive analysis but retained pending discovery of additional information. This archive approach reflects the scientific principle that absence of conclusive evidence does not constitute evidence of absence; rather, methodological limitations prevent resolution pending data acquisition.jbsa+1​

Unresolved Scientific Questions and Limitations

Current Understanding Gaps

AARO acknowledges persistent scientific limitations affecting UAP analysis:metabunk+1​

1. Sensor Capability Limitations: Military and intelligence sensors operate within defined spectral ranges; phenomena might exist at sensor detection thresholds or outside operating parameters

2. Observer Interpretation: Perceptual biases and limited training in unfamiliar phenomena characteristics systematically introduce misinterpretation

3. Data Quality Heterogeneity: Reports derive from diverse sensor systems, observer experience levels, and environmental conditions; standardization remains incomplete

4. Transmedium Characterization: Phenomena exhibiting behavior across multiple domains (air, sea, space) present analytical challenges exceeding single-domain analysis

5. Historical Data Gaps: Pre-standardized reporting systems and classification restrictions limit access to historical records

Potential Breakthrough Technology Assessment

AARO distinguishes between “unidentified” and “anomalous” and further distinguishes between anomalous and “breakthrough technology.” Director Kosloski stated: “An open mind works both ways. So if we don’t understand what it is, we can’t say that it is or it is not breakthrough technology.”cbsnews​

The office noted that “only a very small fraction of their overall cases, following initial analysis, still possess characteristics that could suggest advanced technologies, accounting for less than two and a half percent of their cases, which are still under investigation.” This distinction reflects scientific methodology: acknowledging possibility while maintaining evidentiary standards.thehill​

Stigma Reduction and Institutional Reformation

Historical Stigmatization

Prior to AARO’s establishment, military and government personnel reporting UAP incidents faced substantial professional and social stigmatization. The 2004 “Tic-Tac” incident exemplified this phenomenon: naval aviators at the center of the incident “were subjected to significant ridicule afterward.”defensescoop+1​

Contemporary Mitigation Efforts

AARO has implemented systematic efforts to reduce reporting stigma:armed-services.senate+2​

1. Public Website Launch: Establishment of AARO’s public portal in August 2023 providing case resolutions, imagery, material analysis, and secure reporting mechanismsaaro+1​

2. Education Campaigns: Military personnel education to reduce false positive reporting while encouraging legitimate UAP reporting315aw.afrc.af+1​

3. Reporting Normalization: Integration of UAP reporting into standard military guidance and procedures, with joint guidance issued by the Joint Staff to defense personnel worldwideaaro​

4. Military Service Implementation: Working with military services to ensure implementation of UAP reporting guidanceaaro​

5. Institutional Legitimacy: Congressional support and funding, scientific peer-review mechanisms, and publication of findings contribute to institutional legitimacy for researchers and observers

The reduction in reporting stigma correlates with increased reporting volume—AARO Director Kosloski attributed the significant increase in case reporting partly to “a better understanding of the possible threats” and “increased awareness about reporting UAP incidents.” Education campaigns have helped “help pilots with identification of explained objects to reduce false positive sightings.”jbsa+1​

Collaboration with Scientific Community

NASA Partnership

NASA’s Independent Study Team, formed in October 2022 and completed in June 2023, concluded that “the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) presents a unique scientific opportunity that demands a rigorous, evidence-based approach.”science.nasa+1​

NASA’s analysis emphasized that “UAP analysis is more limited by the quality of data than by the availability of techniques.” The panel recommended that NASA and AARO collectively develop federal systems for civilian UAP reporting, coordinate on advanced data curation methodologies, and leverage NASA’s Earth-observing satellites and radiological sensors for contextual analysis of UAP-coincident environmental conditions.defensescoop+1​

AARO and NASA established a NASA liaison position embedded within AARO’s science and technology group. NASA has appointed a dedicated Director of UAP Research, initially identified as Mark McInerney, “a tremendous expert on large-scale curation of data” from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, to coordinate whole-of-government collaboration.defensescoop​

Academic and International Engagement

AARO has engaged academic institutions and international allies regarding UAP research methodologies and findings. A 2025 Vienna symposium organized in conjunction with the Society for UAP Studies engaged academia on challenges related to managing and analyzing UAP reports, data acquisition methodologies, and rigorous scientific processes.societyforuapstudies​

Peter Sforza, Society director, articulated the collaborative vision: “UAP research is as much about advancing our capacity for rigorous, reflexive science as it is about the phenomena themselves, and this offers a chance to evolve our methods, improve coordination, and fill the information void with credible, integrative analysis.”societyforuapstudies​

Sensor Development and Technological Advancement

Gremlin System Architecture

AARO has developed the “Gremlin System,” a deployable surveillance capability in collaboration with Georgia Tech Research Institute, specifically designed to capture real-time UAP data and enable rapid response to incidents.twz+2​

Technical Specifications

The Gremlin system integrates multiple sensor modalities:yahoo+1​

• 2D Search Radar: Range and azimuth determination

• 3D Radar: Range, azimuth, and elevation assessment

• Long-range Electro-optical/Infrared Sensors: Extended spectral range observation

• RF Spectrum Monitor: Radio frequency anomaly detection

• Integrated Data Systems: ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), GPS, satellite communications, cellular and fiber-optic links

• Networked Architecture: Central node fusion for coordinated multi-sensor analysis

The system operates as a portable, configurable suite deployed in Pelican cases for field operations.defensescoop​

Deployment and Testing

GREMLIN underwent testing at “a very large range in Texas” against known drone targets and unknown phenomena. Initial findings documented detection of bats, birds, solar flaring, and orbital debris—establishing baseline environmental signatures for anomaly detection.defensescoop​

The system “demonstrated functionality and successfully collected data during a test event in March of 2024.” The next operational phase involves “a 90-day pattern of life collection at a site of national security,” establishing baseline normal activity signatures against which anomalies would be identified.twz​

The system is designed for deployment in response to national security sites experiencing UAP reports, “particularly near national security sites” and areas with “restricted airspace, or within a maritime range, or in the proximity of one of our spaceships.”defensescoop​

Challenges, Controversies, and Ongoing Investigations

Whistleblower Claims and AARO Investigation

David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence official, testified before Congress in July 2023 regarding claims of government possession and reverse-engineering of recovered alien craft. Grusch’s whistleblower complaint was filed with the Department of Defense Inspector General, who determined the complaint “urgent and credible for the intelligence committees.”congress+1​

AARO’s director at that time, Sean Kirkpatrick, stated that “contrary to assertions made in the hearing”, Grusch “has refused to speak with AARO” so that some details said to have been given to Congress had not been provided to his office. Kirkpatrick further noted that AARO had interviewed approximately 30 individuals claiming knowledge of alleged reverse-engineering programs, finding “none of it has yet led to any verifiable information that substantiates the claim that the U.S. government has those ships or has a reverse-engineering program either in the past or currently.”wikipedia+1​

Subsequent controversy emerged regarding AARO’s characterization of historical programs. Former Defense Intelligence Agency official James Lacatski, who managed AAWSAP and later advocated for the KONA BLUE program, filed an Inspector General complaint alleging that AARO had made “false statements” and “misleading statements and documents” about these programs. Lacatski asserts he has provided evidence supporting his claims to the DoD IG office.reddit​

This ongoing controversy reflects genuine disagreement between parties regarding historical program characterization, with stakes involving both transparency and potential official misconduct allegations. The resolution of these claims remains pending IG investigation and potential congressional oversight.

Pentagon Inspector General Assessment

The Department of Defense Inspector General criticized the Pentagon’s UAP response in a January 2024 report (earlier classified, released publicly in unclassified form), finding that the Pentagon “has no overarching UAP policy and, as a result, it lacks assurance that national security and flight safety threats to the United States from UAP have been identified and mitigated.”twz​

The IG report identified that Pentagon efforts had been “irregular because of competing priorities, lack of substantive progress, and inconclusive findings.” The IG recommended developing comprehensive DoD policy integrating UAP roles, responsibilities, and coordination procedures into existing intelligence and counterintelligence policies.twz​

Future Operational Priorities

AARO Director Jon Kosloski outlined 2025 priorities including:jbsa​

• Building partnerships and promoting increased transparency

• Scaling up office operations and capabilities

• Expanding UAP reporting to additional interagencies, including international partners

• Accelerating declassification processes through additional expertise recruitment

• Investigating cases near non-national security sites, expanding analytical scope beyond military installations

• Continuing Historical Record Report Volume II investigation (covering November 2023 through April 2024)

Conclusion: Scientific Evidence and Remaining Mysteries

AARO’s comprehensive investigation demonstrates that the preponderance of UAP reports resolve through conventional explanation once sufficient data becomes available. The office has systematically investigated claims of reverse-engineering programs, recovered extraterrestrial materials, and alleged government cover-ups, finding “no empirical evidence” supporting these allegations. The discovery of the proposed but never-approved Kona Blue program exemplifies AARO’s transparency while simultaneously demonstrating the absence of actual recovered extraterrestrial materials or active reverse-engineering efforts.defense+1​

Simultaneously, AARO acknowledges that approximately 21 current cases warrant continued investigation, with less than 2.5% of the complete database demonstrating characteristics requiring continued analysis. These cases involve credible witnesses, multiple corroborating sources, video documentation, and characteristics that current scientific understanding cannot readily explain.stripes+1​

The scientific distinction between “unexplained” and “extraterrestrial” remains critical. As AARO’s director acknowledged, unexplained phenomena do not constitute evidence for any particular explanation; rather, they reflect current limitations in data, analytical capability, or sensor performance. The appropriate scientific response involves continued investigation through rigorous methodology, advancing sensor technology, and international scientific collaboration—exactly AARO’s current approach.

The office’s transition to full operational capability in October 2024, establishment of the Gremlin sensor architecture, expansion of reporting mechanisms and international partnerships, and commitment to historical record investigation represent significant advancement in government UAP investigation infrastructure. AARO demonstrates that rigorous science and transparency regarding genuine mysteries need not involve either dismissal of legitimate phenomena or acceptance of extraordinary claims absent extraordinary evidence.

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