For the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government
Innovation; and
National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Greetings, Chairwoman Mace, Chairman Grothman, Ranking Members
Connolly and Garcia, and Members of the Committee. It is my honor
and privilege to testify before you on the issue of unidentified
anomalous phenomena, formerly known as UFOs. On behalf of our
brave men and women in uniform and across the intelligence
community, as well as my fellow Americans who have awaited this
day, thank you for your leadership on this important matter.
Let me be clear: UAP are real. Advanced technologies not made by
our Government – or any other government – are monitoring sensitive
military installations around the globe. Furthermore, the U.S. is in
possession of UAP technologies, as are some of our adversaries. I
believe we are in the midst of a multi-decade, secretive arms race—
one funded by misallocated taxpayer dollars and hidden from our
elected representatives and oversight bodies.
For many years, I was entrusted with protecting some of our nation’s
most sensitive programs. In my last position, I managed a Special
Access Program on behalf of the White House and the National
Security Council. As such, I appreciate the need to protect certain
sensitive intelligence and military information. I consider my oath to
protect secrets as sacred and will always put the safety of the
American people first. With that said, I also understand the
consequences of excessive secrecy and stove-piping. Nowhere was
this more apparent than in the aftermath of 9/11, which many of us
remember all too well.
I believe that America’s greatness depends on three elements:
● a watchful Congress;
● a responsive Executive Branch; and
● an informed public.
Over the last decade and a half, I learned that certain UAP programs
were, and are, operating without any of these elements.
Although much of my Government work on the UAP subject still
remains classified, excessive secrecy has led to grave misdeeds
against loyal civil servants, military personnel, and the public – all to
hide the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos.
A small cadre within our own Government involved in the UAP topic
has created a culture of suppression and intimidation that I have
personally been victim to, along with many of my former colleagues.
This includes unwarranted criminal investigations, harassment, and
efforts to destroy one’s credibility.
Most Americans would be shocked to learn that the Pentagon’s very
own Public Affairs Office openly employs a professional
psychological operations officer as the singular point of contact for
any UAP-related inquiries from citizens and the media. This is
unacceptable.
Many of my former colleagues and I have provided classified
testimony to both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence
Community Inspector General. Many of us have subsequently been
targeted by this cabal with threats to our careers, our security
clearances, and even our lives. This is not hyperbole, but a genuine
fact, and this is wrong.
To fix these problems, I propose three principal actions:
● First, Congress and the President should create a single pointof-contact responsible for a whole-of-government approach to
the UAP issue. Currently, the White House, CIA, NASA, the
Pentagon, Department of Energy, and others play a role, but no
one seems to be in charge, leading to unchecked power and
corruption.
● Second, we need a national UAP strategy that will promote
transparency and help restore the American public’s trust at a
time when the public’s trust is at an all-time low. This strategy
should include a whole-of-government approach, including the
academic and scientific communities, the private sector, and our
international partners and allies.
● Third, Congress should create a protected environment so
whistleblowers, desperate to do the right thing, can come
forward without fear. As it currently stands, these
whistleblowers suffer because of stigma, a code of silence, and
concerns about retaliation. These whistleblowers should be
encouraged to come forward in ways that protect them against
any forms of retaliation. Policies and procedures should ensure
that protection. And for those who refuse to cooperate, it is up
to the Members of this Committee and other lawmakers to wield
their subpoena power against hostile witnesses and prevent
additional Government funding to those UAP efforts that remain
hidden from Congressional oversight.
In closing, we as Americans, have never been afraid of a challenge. In
fact, we thrive on them. Whether it’s eradicating polio or going to the
moon. We don’t run from a challenge; we take it head on. To the
incoming Administration and Congress, I say to you, we need
immediate public transparency, and this hearing is an important step
on that journey. If we approach the UAP topic in the same way we as
Americans have met other challenges, we can restore our faith in our
government institutions. Together, we can usher in a new era of
accountable government and scientific discovery. I believe that we as
Americans can handle the truth. And I also believe the world deserves
the truth. Thank you, esteemed members of Congress, for your time
today. It is profoundly appreciated by many.