In
a previous email sent to me back in May, 2020, the Pentagon stated that there
was already a interagency team/task force under the cognizance of the OUSD(I)
that was analyzing sighting reports, and as most of the reports were from Navy
pilots, the Navy did much of the effort. In Pentagon's recent press release it
is stated that the UAPTF, established on August 4, 2020, under the oversight of
the OUSD(I) and lead by the Navy. This contributed to some confusion, and I
contacted Susan Gough and Joseph Gradisher to comment on the contradiction.
Here are their answers.
September 2, 2020
Re: Questions about UAPTF - Roger Glassel
Hi, Roger, sorry for the delay. Here are our responses to your questions, including your latest.
1) What is the difference between the newly established UAP Task Force and the previous running task force investigating Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?
Since the majority of recent reporting about UAP observations have come from naval aviators, since approximately 2018, the Department of the Navy has been leading assessments of UAP incursion into DOD training ranges and designated airspace. Over the last year, DOD undertook efforts to formalize the good work done by the Navy for DOD. This effort was an informal task force that I referenced to you earlier. Deputy Secretary Norquist approved the formal establishment of the UAPTF on Aug. 4, 2020.
2) Why did the OSD/OUSD decide to establish a new UAP Task Force superseding the previous task force investigating Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?
The task force was established to meet congressional guidance, including the report directed by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Over the last year, DOD undertook efforts to formalize the good work done by the Navy for DOD in leading assessments of UAP incursions into DOD training ranges and designated airspace. Deputy Secretary Norquist approved the establishment of the UAPTF on Aug. 4, 2020.
3) As the OUSD(I) was also the cognizant authority for the previous UAP interagency task force, was this the task force that former OUSD(I) employee Mr. Luis Elizondo was providing coordination and professional connections/liaison for?
No. Luis Elizondo departed DOD in 2017.
4) What was the name of the previous Task Force investigating Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?
There was no previous formal task force.
5) Will the newly established UAP Task Force look into other aspects of the nature and origins of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or will the UAPTF just look at the aspect of UAP being a potential threat to U.S. national security?
The Department of Defense established the UAPTF to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAP incursions into our training ranges and designated airspace. The mission of the task force is to detect, analyze and catalog UAP incursions that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security.
6) Will the public be informed about any findings from the UAPTF of the nature and/or origins of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?
Thorough examinations of any incursion
into our training ranges or designated airspace often involves assessments from
across the department, and, as appropriate, consultation with other U.S.
government departments and agencies. To maintain operations security and to
avoid disclosing information that may be useful to our adversaries, DOD does
not discuss publicly the details of either the observations or the examination
of reported incursions into our training ranges or designated airspace,
including those incursions initially designated as UAP.
7) If an observer initially characterize an observation as unidentified aerial phenomena, that he or she cannot immediately identify, and the observation cannot later be explained after an analysis by the UAPTF, or any other component, what will such observation be categorized as?
Unidentified
Regards,
Sue Gough
Department of Defense
Spokesperson
