On July 26, 2023, a Congressional hearing garnered worldwide attention as Navy pilot Ryan Graves, Navy Commander David Fravor, and former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch provided testimonies.
Former Pentagon official Lue Elizondo described this as a “profound moment,” particularly noting Grusch’s public disclosure about a purported “multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program.” “Having three military figures testify on UAP reality is historic,” Elizondo remarked.
Interest in UAPs grows as more military officers and public figures demand transparency
For some observers, the testimonies seemed to signal imminent full disclosure. However, the outcome did not match these expectations. Initially, the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) refuted Grusch’s claims. Similar to Elizondo’s experience, scrutiny of Grusch’s background soon followed, including reports of his commitment to a mental health facility after expressing suicidal thoughts.
Despite these revelations, Grusch maintained his security clearance and later shared that his mental health issues stemmed from his Afghanistan service and the loss of a friend. Meanwhile, AARO publicly stated it had no evidence supporting a government UAP retrieval program.
The Pentagon’s March report echoed this stance, denying any alien presence or cover-up. Elizondo criticized the report’s author, former AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick, for inconsistency with the truth. “When someone like that blatantly tells you something that isn’t true, you have a serious credibility problem,” Elizondo said.
Kirkpatrick responded to these criticisms, asserting that his team provided evidence to support their findings. Elizondo expressed willingness to testify before Congress if asked. Meanwhile, Defense Department spokesperson Sue Gough reiterated that AARO has not verified any claims of extraterrestrial material programs.
UFO enthusiasts argue that the Pentagon’s stance is part of a disinformation campaign to undermine Elizondo, citing various confirmations of his role in the UAP program, including a letter from former Assistant Deputy Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Chris Mellon.
Jennifer Elizondo, Lue Elizondo’s wife, emphasized the importance of transparency. “People should know if we are not alone,” she said. “No government has the right to keep that hidden.” Interest in UAPs continues to grow, with new videos emerging and additional military officers, like Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet and Col. Karl Nell, making similar claims.
Chris Mellon highlighted the potential importance of these developments, calling them “potentially revolutionary and transformational.” Elizondo encourages public engagement, stressing that disclosure is a lengthy process, not a sudden event. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he said, indicating that the next generation might in the end drive real disclosure.
