Thomas Ratchford

Thomas Ratchford served as a key figure in U.S. Air Force UFO investigations during the 1950s and 1960s. Affiliated with the Air Force Research and Development Office, he became the Air Force coordinator for a CIA-led UFO study project, facilitating coordination between military branches and intelligence agencies on national security implications of sightings. In February 1967, he engaged with Major General E.B. Giller to involve CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) in supporting the Condon Committee, the University of Colorado's scientific study of UFOs. Ratchford requested NPIC assistance for photo analysis of alleged UFO images, leading to a visit by Condon and committee members on 20 February 1967, where they reviewed specialized equipment used in prior analyses. His role bridged government scientific and intelligence efforts amid Cold War-era UFO scrutiny.