The Pentagon’s UFO chief will resign next month after saying that some sightings of objects flying in the skies over the US are either the work of a foreign country or extraterrestrials, warning that the latter is the preferred scenario.
Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), announced his plans to leave last week after leading the department for 18 months, a job from which he delayed his retirement in hopes of finding evidence of extraterrestrials.
After investigating more than 800 cases during his brief tenure as director, Kirkpatrick warned about the presence of UFOs, and while there is still no solid evidence of aliens, he says the alternative is far more frightening.
“If we don’t prove it’s aliens, then what we find is evidence of other people doing things in our backyard,” he told Politico. “And that’s not good.”
Sean Kirkpatrick led the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office for nearly 18 months.C-Span
Kirkpatrick added that he was satisfied with what he accomplished in his time with AARO, including working to make the Pentagon’s UFO files more accessible to the public.
The office, established last year, has made headlines for its investigation into UFO sightings reported by military pilots and for helping track Chinese surveillance balloons flying over the US.
Kirkpatrick himself made headlines in June when he slammed whistleblower David Charles Grusch, a former intelligence official who claimed the US had been secretly recovering alien spacecraft for decades.
Under Kirkpatrick, the Pentagon has been more transparent about its investigation into UFOs, but officials say there is still no solid evidence of extraterrestrials.NASA
Although open to the idea of aliens among us, Kirkpatrick testified before congress that “there is no credible evidence to date of extraterrestrial activity” or “extraterrestrial technology.”
He criticized Grusch’s allegations as “grossly unethical and immoral,” noting that the whistleblower declined several requests to speak with AARO.
The Department of Defense touted Kirkpatrick’s leadership, crediting him with creating its first public-facing website to bring more transparency to AARO’s work.
AARO has reviewed several incidents of military pilots encountering UFOs.DoD/AFP via Getty Images
“His commitment to transparency with the United States Congress and the American public regarding UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) leaves a legacy that the department will continue as AARO continues its mission,” the Department of Defense said in a statement.
“Our department is stronger and better prepared to meet the scientific and national security challenges of the future because of Sean’s outstanding service to our nation.”
Tim Phillips, Kirkpatrick’s deputy, will lead the office until the Pentagon names a new chief.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
