Central Intelligence Agency
Background
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government, established in 1947. As a federal intelligence organization, the CIA has maintained records and conducted research related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) throughout its operational history.
UAP and UFO Research
The agency's involvement in UAP research includes:
- Documentation of aerial intelligence collection platforms and their role in national security operations
- Historical records and research on UFO sightings dating back to the late 1940s and 1950s
- Declassification of hundreds of documents detailing investigations into UFOs
- Maintenance of a collection of declassified materials accessible through its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reading room
Key Contributions
In recent decades, the CIA has contributed to the broader U.S. government effort to standardize UAP reporting and investigation. The agency works alongside other federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Office of Naval Intelligence to address unidentified anomalous phenomena using scientific frameworks.