Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP)
The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was a U.S. government-funded program established in the early 2000s to investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), also known as UFOs. The program was classified and was not widely known until its existence was revealed in a 2017 New York Times article. The AATIP was led by Luis Elizondo, a former military intelligence officer, and was reportedly tasked with investigating UAP sightings and reports that could potentially pose a threat to national security.
One fact is that the AATIP was established at the behest of former U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. According to Politico, Reid pushed for the program’s creation in 2007, and he played a key role in securing the $22 million in funding that was allocated to the program.
Despite the program’s existence, many government officials have been reluctant to acknowledge the potential significance of UAPs. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest and attention on the issue, with multiple reports of UAP sightings by military personnel and calls for increased government research and disclosure.
Another unique fact is that Luis Elizondo, the former head of the AATIP, has since become a vocal advocate for increased government research and disclosure related to UAPs. Elizondo has argued that UAP sightings and reports represent potential national security threats that require greater attention and investigation.
There are numerous books, articles, and news reports covering the issue of UAPs and the AATIP. One book, “Unidentified: The National Intelligence Problem of UFOs” by Christopher Mellon, provides an in-depth look at the history of U.S. government involvement in investigating UAPs, including the AATIP. The book argues that there is a pressing need for increased government research and disclosure related to UAPs.
Multiple newspapers, including the New York Times and Washington Post, have covered the issue extensively, with articles focused on UAP sightings by military personnel and the potential national security implications of the reports. These articles have also covered the government’s involvement in investigating UAPs, including the AATIP.
According to media reports and interviews with former government officials, the following individuals were involved in the program:
- Luis Elizondo: Former military intelligence officer who headed the AATIP.
- Christopher Mellon: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and member of the AATIP’s external advisory board.
- Steve Justice: Former head of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works advanced development program and consultant for the AATIP.
- Hal Puthoff: Physicist and paranormal researcher who was involved in the AATIP’s research into exotic propulsion systems.
- Eric Davis: Physicist who worked as a consultant for the AATIP and was involved in research into UAPs and exotic propulsion systems.
- Jim Semivan: Former senior intelligence service officer with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and member of the AATIP’s external advisory board.
- Dr. Garry Nolan: Stanford University professor and consultant for the AATIP who analyzed biological samples allegedly related to UAPs.
- Robert Bigelow: Real estate mogul and founder of Bigelow Aerospace, a company that was contracted by the AATIP to study UAPs.
- Colm Kelleher: Biochemist and author who worked as a consultant for the AATIP and was involved in research into UAPs and related phenomena.
The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), established in the early 2000s, signifies the U.S. government’s covert recognition of the potential significance of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Coming into the public eye via a 2017 New York Times revelation, the program’s primary objective was to look into UAP sightings that might pose national security threats. Orchestrated under the guidance of Luis Elizondo, and catalyzed by the support of former U.S. Senator Harry Reid, the AATIP was more than a mere footnote in the annals of defense intelligence. Despite the historic reticence of government figures to openly discuss UAPs, recent years have marked a shift towards transparency, led in part by figures like Elizondo advocating for deeper probes into these mysteries. Key individuals, ranging from military experts to physicists, have contributed to the program, underscoring the gravity and breadth of the issue. With a surge in media attention and dedicated research like Christopher Mellon’s “Unidentified,” it’s evident that the narrative surrounding UAPs and the government’s role in their investigation is evolving, nudging the discourse towards open inquiry and perhaps, eventual disclosure.
