Pentagon: Deputy Secretary Hicks announces AARO Director Kirkpatrick's
Deputy Defense Secretary Hicks officially announced Dr. Kirkpatrick's retirement from AARO leadership effective December 2023. He supervised over 800 case examinations during his tenure. Via TheBlackVault.com (FOIA).
Background
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, inaugural director of the Pentagon's anomaly office, announced his departure from federal service set for December 2023. Throughout his command since the office formation, he supervised reviews of over 800 mysterious incident reports. Furthermore, he pursued extensive inquiries into classified contractor initiatives linked to aerial phenomena and established the agency's initial public transparency portal at www.aaro.mil. Deputy Secretary Hicks commended his lengthy career emphasizing honesty and congressional openness. The Defense Department indicated that candidate selection for the vacancy proceeds alongside the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.