Inconsistency · I-E-09

Why he resigned

Luis Elizondo

Weight: Substantial

First version

Oct 3, 2017 · The first resignation letter requests the immediate termination of the employment relationship without giving reasons; according to The Black Vault's reading of the memoranda, he told his superior about a job offer with immediate availability and, a few days later, told Garry Reid about family stress. Memorandum for Record by Garry Reid (OUSD(I)), late December 2017 – FOIA 22-F-1322, released April 2, 2024

Second version

Jun 5, 2019 · He writes to the DoD that he left the Pentagon purely out of frustration, as, according to him, the resignation letter shows; in the book Imminent (2024) he recounts instead that he needed money and accepted the position at To The Stars Academy. DoD, FOIA 25-F-2554 – documents on Elizondo 2017–2019 (emails, letter of June 5, 2019, replies from the Navy and the press office)

Analysis

The motivations can coexist: the second letter (October 4, 2017) does express frustration over internal opposition, and a job offer or financial and family difficulties do not rule out professional discontent. The adverb “purely” from 2019, however, is hard to reconcile with the other reasons reported in the documents of the time and in his own book; moreover, according to the Reid memorandum, the second letter was delivered after his departure and was not forwarded to the Secretary because of its uncertain provenance.

Sources

1. Memorandum for Record by Garry Reid (OUSD(I)), late December 2017 – FOIA 22-F-1322, released April 2, 2024 (primary source)
2. DoD, FOIA 25-F-2554 – documents on Elizondo 2017–2019 (emails, letter of June 5, 2019, replies from the Navy and the press office) (primary source)

On this site

People 1

• Luis Elizondo

Claims 1

• Luis Elizondo: Claims to have left the Pentagon in protest against internal opposition and the lack of resources, and to… Disputed

Documents 3

• Elizondo's two resignation letters (October 2017) Original available
• Garry Reid's memorandum on AATIP and on Elizondo (December 2017) Original available
• The Pentagon's emails on Elizondo and AATIP (2017–2019), released in 2025 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.