People

Christopher Sherwood

Christopher Sherwood is a Pentagon spokesperson who made public statements disputing Luis Elizondo's role in the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program and addressing the release of Navy UAP videos.

United States Department of Defense (DoD) · Pentagon spokesperson

Christopher Sherwood is a Pentagon spokesperson who said the Navy F/A-18 cockpit videos showing unidentified aerial phenomena were released “for research purposes… and not for general public release."¹ He also told reporters that three Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) videos had been cleared for research purposes only, not for public dissemination.²

Sherwood is most prominently associated with Pentagon statements disputing Luis Elizondo’s role in the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). He told Keith Kloor unequivocally that Elizondo had no responsibilities regarding AATIP while working in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSDI)³, a position he said held up until Elizondo’s resignation, effective 2017-10-04.⁴ Sherwood said he reached this conclusion after speaking with OUSDI leadership, including individuals who had been in the office since Elizondo started there.⁵ He acknowledged that Elizondo worked for other organisations within the United States Department of Defense (DoD).⁶ Separately, Sherwood confirmed that AATIP existed and had pursued research and investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena.⁷ He said he could not confirm a statement by Dana White that the programme existed and was run by Elizondo.⁸

The Pentagon’s earlier position on Elizondo’s AATIP role, which the Harry Reid memo to William Lynn III on Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) Special Access Program status (2009-07-24) was reported not to change, had been issued to The Intercept by Sherwood.⁹

Keith Kloor said that Sherwood’s statement directly contradicted an email sent by a spokesperson for To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA).¹⁰ Sherwood denied that Elizondo had any involvement in AATIP, stating on behalf of the Pentagon that “Mr. Elizondo had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program."¹¹ Sherwood privately admitted to Elizondo that he knew of Elizondo’s AATIP role, but said forces within the Pentagon had instructed him not to admit it.¹² According to Elizondo, Brad Byers, working in the office of the Secretary of Defense, telephoned Sherwood to express concern over the Pentagon’s account, warning that too many senior officials knew of Elizondo’s role in AATIP.¹³

References (13)

Said the F/A-18 cockpit videos were released for research purposes only, not general public release
“Sherwood, the Pentagon spokesperson, said the videos were released “for research purposes … and not for general public release,””
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:13050-13169 View the source record →
Told reporters three UAP videos were cleared for research purposes only, not public dissemination
“among other things, Sherwood told reporters that the three UAP videos had been cleared for research purposes only, not public dissemination.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch30:5441-5569 View the source record →
Told Keith Kloor unequivocally Elizondo had no responsibilities regarding AATIP while at OUSDI
“Sherwood, the Pentagon spokesperson who had told me unequivocally that Elizondo “had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program while he worked in OUSDI.””
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:16378-16535 View the source record →
Said Elizondo had no AATIP responsibilities at OUSDI up until his resignation, effective 2017-10-04
““Mr. Elizondo had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program while he worked in OUSDI [the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence], up until the time he resigned effective 10/4/2017.””
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:2310-2512 View the source record →
Said he reached this conclusion after speaking with OUSDI leadership present since Elizondo started
“Sherwood said he’d spoken with OUSDI leadership, including individuals who are “still there” from the time when Elizondo started working in the office.”
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:16759-16903 View the source record →
Acknowledged Elizondo worked for other organisations within the DoD
“Sherwood acknowledged that Elizondo “worked for other organizations in DoD.””
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:17025-17096 View the source record →
Confirmed AATIP existed and pursued research and investigation into UAP
“Yes, AATIP existed, and it “did pursue research and investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena,” Pentagon spokesperson Christopher Sherwood told me.”
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:2135-2286 View the source record →
Said he could not confirm Dana White's statement that AATIP existed and was run by Elizondo
“But Pentagon spokesperson Christopher Sherwood told me that he “cannot confirm” White’s statement.”
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:7475-7563 View the source record →
Pentagon's earlier position, unchanged by the 2009 Harry Reid memo, had been issued to The Intercept by Sherwood
“the content therein “makes no change” to their previous statement issued by Pentagon spokesperson Mr. Christopher Sherwood to The Intercept.”
Pentagon Reinforces Mr. Luis Elizondo Had "No Responsibilities" on AATIP; Senator Harry Reid's 2009 Memo Changes Nothing - The Black Vault char:3384-3514 View the source record →
Keith Kloor said Sherwood's statement contradicted a TTSA spokesperson's email
“That directly contradicts an email sent by a spokesperson for To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, a UFO research and entertainment company that Elizondo joined after he left the Defense Department.”
The Media Loves This UFO Expert Who Says He Worked for an Obscure Pentagon Program. Did He? char:2520-2710 View the source record →
Denied Elizondo had any AATIP involvement, quoted as saying he had 'no responsibilities'
“The Pentagon's spokesperson at the time, Christopher Sherwood, suddenly denied I had any involvement in AATIP. ... On behalf of the Pentagon, Sherwood told the reporters, "Mr. Elizondo had no responsibilities with regard to the AATIP program."”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch30:4525-4788 View the source record →
Privately admitted to Elizondo he knew of his AATIP role but was told not to admit it
“He admitted he knew very well about my role at AATIP, but forces within the building instructed him not to admit it.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch30:5705-5818 View the source record →
Brad Byers reportedly called Sherwood warning too many people knew of Elizondo's AATIP role
“Later I learned that even Brad Byers in the SECDEF's office had called Sherwood expressing his concern over the story told by the Pentagon. Byers warned Sherwood that way too many people in senior positions knew of my role in AATIP, that the Pentagon was backing itself into a corner.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch30:5936-6240 View the source record →

Christopher Sherwood

Language