Pentagon: Deputy Secretary Hicks establishes AOIMSG via memorandum
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks established a new Pentagon office for UAP identification through a memorandum dated November 23, 2021. The Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group was created to coordinate detection efforts across military branches. It replaced previous ad-hoc procedures with a formal structure including an executive oversight council.
Background
On November 23, 2021, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks issued a memorandum establishing the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG). The directive cited safety risks to aircrews and national security concerns posed by unidentified aerial phenomena operating in Special Use Airspace. The new office was tasked with synchronizing efforts across the Department of Defense and federal agencies to detect, identify, and attribute objects of interest. Hicks also created the Airborne Object Identification and Management Executive Council (AOIMEXEC) to provide oversight and strategic direction for these activities. This represented a significant restructuring of the Pentagon's approach to UAP investigations, consolidating previous efforts into a formal program with dedicated leadership and interagency coordination mechanisms.