The Pentagon’s UFO chief will resign next month after saying that several reported sightings of objects flying through the sky over the US are the work of foreign nations or extraterrestrials, warning that the latter would be 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 for which he postponed 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 has yet to be any hard evidence of aliens, he said the alternative was much scarier.
“If we don’t prove that they are aliens, then what we will 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 pleased with what he accomplished during his time at AARO, including working to make the Pentagon’s UFO files more accessible to the public.
The office, which was established last year, has made headlines for its investigations into UFO sightings reported by military pilots and for helping detect Chinese surveillance balloons flying over the United States.
Kirkpatrick himself made headlines in June when he criticized whistleblower David Charles Grusch, a former intelligence officer who claimed that the United States had been secretly recovering extraterrestrial spacecraft for decades.
Under Kirkpatrick, the Pentagon has been more transparent in its UFO investigations, but officials said there is still no hard evidence of the existence of extraterrestrials.
Despite being open to the idea of aliens among us, Kirkpatrick testified before Congress that there was “as yet no credible evidence of extraterrestrial activity” or “extraterrestrial technology.”
He criticized Grusch’s claims as “extremely unethical and immoral,” and noted that the whistleblower declined multiple requests to speak with the AARO.
The Department of Defense praised Kirkpatrick’s leadership and credited him with creating its first public website to bring more transparency to AARO’s work.
The 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 about 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 for future scientific and national security challenges thanks to Sean’s distinguished service to our country.”
Tim Phillips, Kirkpatrick’s deputy, will lead the office until the Pentagon names a new chief.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn