Pentagon: Navy pilots brief Secretary of Defense on UAPs (2017)
Internal DOD emails obtained via FOIA confirm previously undisclosed briefings by Navy pilots to the Secretary of Defense's office in 2017. These sessions addressed UAP encounters and involved former intelligence officer Luis Elizondo. The documents fuel debate about whether Elizondo led the AATIP program or merely coordinated informally.
Background
The briefings represent a significant moment in UAP disclosure history as they were never officially acknowledged before the release of these emails. Navy pilots presented information about unidentified aerial phenomena directly to the front office of the Secretary of Defense. The sessions occurred during a period when the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was reportedly active, though questions remain about its formal status. Former intelligence officer Luis Elizondo was involved in these activities, though the exact nature of his authority—whether as director or coordinator—remains contested. The existence of these briefings was revealed through documents released under FOIA case number 25-F-2554.