Kathleen Hicks

Kathleen Hicks is the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving in this role since February 2021 under Secretaries Lloyd Austin and Pete Hegseth. An American national with a background in defense policy, she has played a pivotal role in U.S. government UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) efforts. In June 2021, Hicks ordered the establishment of a UAP group following the ODNI preliminary assessment on 144 unexplained military encounters. In November 2021, she announced the creation of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to detect, identify, and attribute UAP threats to national security and flight safety. By August 2023, Hicks assumed direct oversight of AARO, holding regular meetings with inaugural director Sean Kirkpatrick, who reported to her, and facilitated a new reporting website. She emphasized UAP as potential national security risks endangering personnel and operations, prioritizing resolution to prevent strategic surprise. No known publications or congressional testimony specific to UAP.