CIA: Chadwell Transfers UFO Responsibility to Odarenko's P&E Division
On May 27, 1953, OSI Director Chadwell formally transferred UFO responsibility to Dr. Todos Odarenko's Physics and Electronics Division, establishing P&E as the CIA's institutional home for UFO matters.
Background
On May 27, 1953, OSI Director Chadwell wrote an Office Memorandum to Todos M. Odarenko, Chief of the Physics and Electronics (P&E) Division, subject being 'Unidentified Flying Objects.' Chadwell began without fanfare: 'Responsibility for maintaining current knowledge of reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects is hereby assigned to your division.'
He directed the P&E staff to interact with the Air Branch of ASD, where the 'major files' were kept. UFOs were now appropriately assigned — physics and electronics were central to the puzzle.