Sean Kirkpatrick Head of the Pentagon’s AARO.
Let me begin by saying that the following are my own personal observations and opinions, which do not
necessarily represent official DoD or IC positions.
Yesterday, the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held an open hearing
on UP during which a government cover-up of extraterrestrials was alleged. I wholeheartedly applaud
Congressional efforts to get to the truth about what UP are and the risks to both pilot safety and
national security. I am also absolutely committed to transparency on both the historical mission and the
operational mission.
As the Director of AARO's amazingly talented, devoted, and highly motivated team, however, I cannot
let yesterday's hearing pass without sharing how insulting it was to the officers of the Department of
Defense and Intelligence Community who chose to join AARO, many with not unreasonable anxieties
about the career risks this would entail. that have been working diligentlv. tirelessly, and often in the
face of harassment and animosity, to satisfy their Congressionally-mandated mission. They are truth-
seekers, as am I. But you certainly would not get that impression from yesterday's hearing.
AARO was established, by law, to investigate the allegations and assertions presented in yesterday's
hearing. Allegations by its witnesses of retaliation, to include physical assault and hints of murder, are
extraordinarily serious, which is why law enforcement is a critical member of the AARO team,
specifically to address and take swift action should anyone come forward with such claims. Yet, contrary
to assertions made in the hearing, the central source of those allegations has refused to speak with
AARO. Furthermore, some information reportedly provided to Congress has not been provided to AARO,
raising additional questions about the true commitment to transparency by some Congressional
elements.
The Subcommittee, whose questions and oversight duties are irreproachable and in genuine need of
answers, has never asked AARO for an update on the reporting system, the historical review, the
operations, and the S&T strategy that AARO leads and is undertaking. A rational person watching the
hearing might reasonably assume that both the witnesses and the members had an understanding of
the Department's and the IC's progress since the establishment of AARO around this time last year, only
naturally leading them to conclude that AARO has been ineffective, non-transparent, and delinquent in
its legislated mission. AARO briefs the Defense and Intel committees regularly, and since the last NDAA,
the Homeland Defense, S&T and several other committees as well.
I am deeply disappointed at the denigration of AARO's dedicated men and women hailing from the
Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and Civil partners who are pouring their hearts out
working this issue on the behalf of Congress. AARO has the authorities and resources necessary to
execute this mission to meet Congressional intent, and as we've stated before, AARO welcomes anyone
with knowledge of any of these allegations or programs to talk to us in a safe, secure, and appropriately
cleared environment. Rest assured, AARO will follow the data wherever it leads.
Finally, to be clear, AARO has yet to find any credible evidence to support the allegations of any reverse
engineering program for non-human technology. Also, to be clear, none of the whistleblowers from
yesterday's hearing ever worked for AARO or was ever a representative to AARO, contrary to statements
made in testimony and in the media
