Howard W. Smith

Lieut. Howard W. Smith was a U.S. Air Force officer involved in early UFO investigations during the late 1940s. In 1952, as part of CIA assessments of Air Force flying saucer probes, Smith questioned the objectivity of the investigations and sought details on required funding and manpower to resolve unexplained cases. He estimated only a one-in-10,000 chance of national security threats but insisted it warranted attention. Smith advocated CIA coordination of intelligence efforts per statute and explored UFOs' potential in U.S. psychological warfare. He prompted CIA Study Group meetings with Air Force officials at Wright-Patterson AFB and influenced directives for NSC prioritization of UFO research, including external scientific studies.