Ryan Graves

Overview
Former US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot (VFA-11 Red Rippers). Since 2014, personally documented UAP encounters off the US East Coast (Virginia Capes). Founder of Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA, 2023). First chair of the AIAA UAP Committee.

Key Moments
July 26, 2023: one of three primary witnesses at the historic congressional hearing (alongside Fravor and Grusch). His testimony focused on flight safety risks and systematic UAP encounters by Navy pilots 2014-2015. Built ASA into a 30,000-member organization.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Personal experience as military pilot + congressional testimony provides highest credibility. Dual role AIAA chair + ASA connects institution with advocacy. 80+ cases referred to FBI. However: ASA is strongly tied to Graves as a person. No research output of his own — primarily advocacy and whistleblowing.

Ryan Graves is a former U.S. Navy Lieutenant and F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot with extensive operational experience. He served over a decade in the Navy, completing two deployments in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. Graves holds a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and received specialized training in forward air control, combat search and rescue, and naval aviation safety.

Graves became the first active-duty military pilot to publicly report regular sightings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and has since become a leading voice in UAP research and aerospace safety. In 2023, he founded Americans for Safe Aerospace, the first military pilot-led nonprofit dedicated to UAP as a matter of national security and aerospace safety. He has engaged with over 1,000 military and commercial pilots and referred more than 80 cases to the FBI. Graves serves as the first Chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Integration & Outreach Committee, representing over 30,000 aerospace industry members, and has testified before Congress about UAP encounters.

Graves has significantly raised public awareness of UAP issues through major media appearances and professional work. He has been featured in 60 Minutes, The New York Times, NBC News, and Politico. Previously, he worked on advanced military autonomy applications at BAE Systems FAST Labs and at Quantum Generative Materials on material science and AI applications.