Record

Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin

A 2023 investigative article published by The Debrief reporting on whistleblower David Grusch's claims that the US government has secretly retrieved craft of non-human origin and illegally withheld that information from Congress.

Web · The Debrief · 2023-06-05

“Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin” is an investigative article published on 2023-06-05 by The Debrief, written by Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, with contributions from Helene Cooper, Tim McMillan, Micah Hanks, Craig Labadie, and Sean Munger.³⁴ The article centres on the disclosures of David Grusch, a former intelligence official and decorated combat veteran who served in Afghanistan,¹ identifying him as the primary source of the 2023 Grusch UAP Whistleblower Disclosures. Kean and Blumenthal previously co-authored a 2017-12-17 front-page article in The New York Times that disclosed the existence of a secret Pentagon programme investigating UAP.³⁴

Grusch is described as a veteran of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office,⁵ who served as the National Reconnaissance Office’s representative to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) from 2019 to 2021⁶ and as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s co-lead for UAP analysis and representative to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) from late 2021 to 2022-07.⁷ The article states that his on-the-record statements were cleared for open publication by the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review on 2023-04-04 and 2023-04-06.¹⁰ Grusch alleges that the US government, its allies, and defence contractors have made recoveries of partial fragments through to intact vehicles of non-human origin for decades through the present day,⁸ and that analysis determined the retrieved objects are of exotic origin based on vehicle morphologies, material science testing, unique atomic arrangements, and radiological signatures.⁹ He additionally alleges that this information has been illegally withheld from Congress² and that UAP recovery operations have been illegally shielded from proper Congressional oversight by elements of the intelligence community.²⁶

The article corroborates Grusch’s account with testimony from two named intelligence officials. Karl E. Nell, a recently retired Army Colonel¹¹ who served as the Department of the Army’s liaison for the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) from 2021 to 2022 and worked alongside Grusch,¹² characterised Grusch as “beyond reproach”¹³ and stated that Grusch’s assertion concerning a decades-long terrestrial arms race over reverse engineering of technologies of unknown origin is “fundamentally correct."¹⁴ Jonathan Grey, described as a generational officer of the US Intelligence Community with a Top-Secret clearance who currently works for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center with UAP analysis as his focus,¹⁸ stated publicly for the first time that “the non-human intelligence phenomenon is real”¹⁹ and that retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States, describing it as a global phenomenon.²⁰ Grey further stated that the existence of complex historical programmes involving coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain secret.³³ The article also notes that the National Air and Space Intelligence Center is the Department of Defense (DoD)’s primary Air Force source for foreign air and space threat analysis, headquartered at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Christopher K. Mellon, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence,¹⁵ also contributed testimony, stating that well-placed current and former officials had shared with him detailed information about an alleged programme, including insights into its history, governing documents, and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered.¹⁶ Mellon additionally stated that a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) established by Congress.¹⁷ The article reports that Grusch told Congress of a decades-long publicly unknown Cold War for recovered and exploited physical material, describing competition with near-peer adversaries to identify UAP crashes and retrieve material for reverse engineering to garner asymmetric national defence advantages.²² Beginning in 2022, Grusch provided Congress with hours of recorded classified information transcribed into hundreds of pages, though Congress has not been provided with any physical materials related to wreckage or other non-human objects.^23,24

The article describes the formal complaint process that preceded the public disclosures. In 2021-07, Grusch confidentially provided classified information to the Department of Defense Inspector General concerning the withholding of UAP-related information from Congress.²⁷ In 2022-05, Charles McCullough III — who served as the original Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Inspector General, confirmed by the US Senate in 2011, and is described at the time of publication as senior partner of the Compass Rose Legal Group — filed a Grusch Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) Complaint on Grusch’s behalf.²⁵ An unclassified version of the complaint states that UAP-related classified information has been withheld from Congress by elements of the intelligence community to thwart legitimate Congressional oversight of the UAP programme.²⁶ The Intelligence Community Inspector General found the complaint credible and urgent in 2022-07,²⁷ after which a summary was submitted to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.²⁸ Grusch also filed a complaint alleging that he suffered illegal retaliation for his disclosures, and the article notes that the Grusch Retaliation Matter was subject to a whistleblower reprisal investigation.³ Grusch departed the government on 2023-04-07.²⁹

The article situates the disclosures within the broader legislative context of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) National Defense Authorization Act, spearheaded by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Marco Rubio and signed into law by Joe Biden in 2022-12,³⁰ which Grusch helped draft and which tasked the Secretary of Defense with establishing a secure mechanism for reporting sensitive information, and asked for reporting on material retrieval, analysis, and reverse engineering involving UAP going back decades. Garry Nolan, described as a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University with more than three hundred published papers,³¹ is quoted on the potential significance of studying anomalous materials. The UAP Reverse Engineering Legacy Programs and the use of Special Access Programs (concept) and Waived Unacknowledged Special Access Program structures to conceal UAP activities from oversight form a recurring theme, and the article draws a line from the 2017 NYT Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) Story Publication through the First Open Congressional Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Hearing 2022, at which Andre Carson presided, to the present disclosures as part of a Claimed historical UAP recovery and exploitation lineage and a broader pattern of USAF non-cooperation with Pentagon UAP work.

References (34)

Grusch provided Congress and the ICIG with classified information about covert programmes allegedly possessing retrieved intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin
“A former intelligence official turned whistleblower has given Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General extensive classified information about deeply covert programs that he says possess retrieved intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 1
Grusch alleges the classified information has been illegally withheld from Congress
“The information, he says, has been illegally withheld from Congress”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 2
Grusch filed a complaint alleging illegal retaliation for his confidential disclosures
“he filed a complaint alleging that he suffered illegal retaliation for his confidential disclosures”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 2
Other active and retired intelligence officials with knowledge of these programmes independently provided corroborating information
“Other intelligence officials, both active and retired, with knowledge of these programs through their work in various agencies, have independently provided similar, corroborating information, both on and off the record.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 3
Grusch is a veteran of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office
“is a veteran of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 4
Grusch served as the NRO's representative to the UAPTF from 2019 to 2021
“He served as the reconnaissance office's representative to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force from 2019-2021.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 4
Grusch served as the NGA's co-lead for UAP analysis and its representative to the UAPTF from late 2021 to 2022-07
“From late 2021 to July 2022, he was the NGA's co-lead for UAP analysis and its representative to the task force.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 4
Grusch stated that recoveries of partial fragments through to intact vehicles have been made for decades through the present day by the government, its allies, and defence contractors
“Grusch said the recoveries of partial fragments through and up to intact vehicles [have been made for decades] through the present day by the government, its allies, and defense contractors.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 6
Analysis determined the retrieved objects are of exotic origin based on vehicle morphologies, material science testing, unique atomic arrangements, and radiological signatures
“Analysis has determined that the objects retrieved are "of exotic origin (non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin) based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures," he said.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 6
Grusch's on-the-record statements were cleared for open publication on 2023-04-04 and 2023-04-06
“His on-the-record statements were all "cleared for open publication" on April 4 and 6, 2023, in documents provided to us.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 9
Karl E. Nell is a recently retired Army Colonel and current aerospace executive
“Karl E. Nell, a recently retired Army Colonel”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 11
Nell served as the Army's liaison for the UAPTF from 2021 to 2022 and worked with Grusch there
“was the Army's liaison for the UAP Task Force from 2021 to 2022”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 11
Nell characterised Grusch as 'beyond reproach'
“characterizes Grusch as "beyond reproach."”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 11
Nell stated that Grusch's assertion concerning a terrestrial arms race over reverse engineering of technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct
“"His assertion concerning the existence of a terrestrial arms race occurring sub-rosa over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct, as is the indisputable realization that at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence," said Karl Nell”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 30
Mellon served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and spent nearly twenty years in the US Intelligence Community
“served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 12
Mellon stated that well-placed officials shared details including insights into history, governing documents, and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered
“"A number of well-placed current and former officials have shared detailed information with me regarding this alleged program, including insights into the history, governing documents and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered," Mellon said.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 13
Mellon stated that a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of AARO
“a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office established by Congress”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 13
Jonathan Grey is a generational officer of the US Intelligence Community with a Top-Secret clearance, currently working at NASIC with UAP analysis as his focus
“currently works for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), where the analysis of UAP has been his focus”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 15
Grey stated: 'The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone.'
“"The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone," Grey said.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 16
Grey stated that retrievals are not limited to the United States and that it is a global phenomenon
“"Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us."”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 16
Grusch asserted that UFO legacy programmes have long been concealed within multiple agencies nesting UAP activities in conventional secret access programmes without appropriate reporting to oversight authorities
“Grusch asserted that UFO "legacy programs" have long been concealed within "multiple agencies nesting UAP activities in conventional secret access programs without appropriate reporting to various oversight authorities."”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 22
Grusch reported to Congress on a decades-long publicly unknown Cold War for recovered and exploited physical material, competing with near-peer adversaries to retrieve UAP crashes and exploit them for national defence advantages
“He said he reported to Congress on the existence of a decades-long "publicly unknown Cold War for recovered and exploited physical material – a competition with near-peer adversaries over the years to identify UAP crashes/landings and retrieve the material for exploitation/reverse engineering to garner asymmetric national defense advantages."”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 23
Beginning in 2022, Grusch provided Congress with hours of recorded classified information transcribed into hundreds of pages
“Beginning in 2022, Grusch provided Congress with hours of recorded classified information transcribed into hundreds of pages which included specific data about the materials recovery program.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 24
Congress has not been provided with any physical materials related to wreckage or other non-human objects
“Congress has not been provided with any physical materials related to wreckage or other non-human objects.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 24
In 2022-05, McCullough filed a Disclosure of Urgent Concern on behalf of Grusch with the ICIG
“In May 2022, McCullough filed a Disclosure of Urgent Concern(s); Complaint of Reprisal on behalf of Grusch with the ICIG about detailed information that Grusch had gathered beginning in 2019 while working for the UAP Task Force.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 33
An unclassified version of the complaint states that UAP-related classified information has been withheld from Congress to thwart legitimate Congressional oversight
“An unclassified version of the complaint provided to us states that Grusch has direct knowledge that UAP-related classified information has been withheld and/or concealed from Congress by "elements" of the intelligence community "to purposely and intentionally thwart legitimate Congressional oversight of the UAP Program."”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 34
In 2021-07, Grusch confidentially provided classified information to the DoD Inspector General concerning the withholding of UAP-related information from Congress
“in July 2021, Grusch had confidentially provided classified information to the Department of Defense Inspector General concerning the withholding of UAP-related information from Congress”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 35
The ICIG found Grusch's complaint 'credible and urgent' in 2022-07
“The Intelligence Community Inspector General found his complaint "credible and urgent" in July 2022.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 37
A summary of the ICIG complaint was submitted to the Director of National Intelligence, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
“According to Grusch, a summary was immediately submitted to the Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines; the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 37
Grusch left the government on 2023-04-07 in order to advance government accountability through public awareness
“Grusch left the government on April 7, 2023, in order, he said, to advance government accountability through public awareness.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 29
The FY2023 NDAA was spearheaded by Senators Gillibrand and Rubio and signed into law by President Biden in 2022-12
“signed into law by President Biden in December 2022”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 21
Garry Nolan is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University with more than three hundred published papers
“Dr. Garry Nolan, a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 53
Grey stated that the existence of complex historical programmes involving coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain secret
“"The existence of complex historical programs involving the coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain a secret," he said.”
Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin paragraph 45
Kean and Blumenthal, with Helene Cooper, co-authored the 2017-12-17 New York Times article disclosing a secret Pentagon UAP programme
“Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, with Helene Cooper, co-authored the Dec. 17, 2017, front-page article in The New York Times that disclosed the existence of a secret Pentagon program investigating UAP.”
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