Claim · E-004
Luis Elizondo: Claims to have directed for almost a decade a sensitive aerospace threat identification program (AATIP) dedicated to unidentified aerial technologies. He later repeated on TV (December 2017) that he had led it, introduced himself as “AATIP Director” on a slide at the MUFON conference (July 2018) and as former director in a request to DOPSR (2020), as the program's “senior ranking person” in his written responses to Congress (December 19, 2024) and as former director on his website (2026).
Luis Elizondo · Oct 2017 · To The Stars Academy launch video (YouTube, around October 11–12, 2017) (Press conference)
Direct knowledge AATIP and AAWSAP
Disputed
Official sources conflict (a confirmation attributed to Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White in December 2017, known only through Wikipedia's summary of Politico, against the DoD's denials from 2017 onward), and while an informal activity on the UAP topic is documented, a formal appointment is not.
- Original words
for nearly the last decade I ran a sensitive Aerospace Threat Identification Program
- In support
- Dana White to Politico (December 2017; according to The Black Vault, the only journalist who reported it is Bryan Bender); a letter from former Senator Harry Reid published by GQ in 2021, in which, as one of the original sponsors of AATIP, he affirms Elizondo's leadership role (full text not consulted); Christopher Mellon; a 2019 Navy email on his role as facilitator and a 2017 email on the handover of the “portfolio” to Tipton; according to George Knapp (KLAS, favorable), Elizondo appears as no. 10 on the list attached to Senator Reid's 2009 letter, whose names are redacted.
- Against or denials
- Garry Reid memorandum (December 2017): Elizondo exaggerated his role and had no duties related to AATIP; Christopher Sherwood (June 1, 2019): no responsibility for AATIP at OUSD(I); Susan Gough (June 13, 2019): no “assigned” responsibility, AATIP was run by the DIA and he did not lead it; same wording in the DoD press fact sheet of May 17, 2021; AARO (March 2024): AATIP was never an official DoD program; in the book Imminent he does not credit himself with leading it and describes the other members as his peers.
Sources
- Memorandum for Record by Garry Reid (OUSD(I)), late December 2017 – FOIA 22-F-1322, released April 2, 2024 (primary source)
- The Black Vault – the Pentagon reiterates that Elizondo had no responsibility in AATIP (statements by Susan Gough), June 14, 2019 (analysis)
- Wikipedia – “Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program” (cross-reference) (other)
- Politico Magazine, December 16, 2017 (not consulted directly; cited by Wikipedia) (press)
On this site
People 1
Claims 9
- Luis Elizondo: Writes that AATIP was an official program that was never closed, that when the funds ran out he continued to… Contradicted
- Luis Elizondo: Claims under oath that in his last assignment he was Director of the National Programs Special Management… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: In the internal emails he claims to have laid the groundwork for the UAP work with the Secretary of… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Recounts that in the late 2000s he was asked to handle the security and counterintelligence of AATIP, a… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Claims that “disclosure” has already happened, that UFOs are real and that this has been established also… Hypothesis or opinion
- Luis Elizondo: Claims that when he was at the Pentagon, UAP reports to his office were increasing while resources were… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Reports that an official involved told him that he knew it was he who directed AATIP, but that forces inside… Unverifiable
- Luis Elizondo: Claims under oath that the GOFAST, GIMBAL and FLIR videos were part of the work of the AATIP program of… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Claims under oath that the Pentagon press office employs a professional psychological operations officer as… Unverifiable
Inconsistencies 2
- Luis Elizondo: Title in AATIP: “director” or no formal role?
- Luis Elizondo: “Peers” in the book, “senior ranking person” in Congress
Documents 2
- Senator Reid's letter asking to protect AATIP with a special access program Original available
- Garry Reid's memorandum on AATIP and on Elizondo (December 2017) Original available
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UAPgrade's entries are compiled with artificial intelligence (three verifiers with opposing roles) and checked against the sources listed above: how we work. Have a document that changes this entry? Bring it to the Investigations Unit.