Mutual UFO Network

Background

MUFON was established on May 31, 1969, in Quincy, Illinois, initially under the name Midwest UFO Network.
- Co-founded by physicist Allen R. Utke, aerospace engineer John F. Schuessler, and organizer Walter H. Andrus Jr.
- Expanded rapidly beyond its regional origins
- Renamed in 1973 to Mutual UFO Network to reflect its national and international reach

Organization and Operations

MUFON operates as a volunteer-driven membership organization with a comprehensive structure.
- Approximately 3,000 members across chapters in every US state and numerous countries worldwide
- Over 900 trained field investigators who respond to reported sightings using standardized documentation protocols
- Comprehensive case database containing reported incidents spanning several decades
- Monthly publication of the MUFON UFO Journal (formerly Skylook)
- Annual international symposium bringing together researchers, witnesses, and members of the public
- Structured field investigator training program
- Headquarters relocated to Texas in 1975

Challenges and Controversies

MUFON has faced periodic challenges including internal leadership disputes and debates about its scientific rigor.
- In 2020, former Executive Director Jan Harzan was arrested on charges of soliciting sex from a minor, resulting in his immediate removal and dealing a severe blow to the organization's reputation

Despite these challenges, MUFON remains the largest and oldest civilian UFO investigation organization in the world and serves as a primary point of contact for witnesses seeking to report unusual aerial observations.