Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid, a prominent Democratic figure, who served in the Senate from Nevada for many years.
In the early 2000s, a secretive U.S. Department of Defense initiative named the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was established with a mission to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and potential advanced aerospace threats. The program, which operated from 2007 to 2012, received approximately $22 million in funding and was primarily driven by the efforts of then-Senator Harry Reid, who championed the program to investigate aerial threats that might pose national security risks.
AATIP's significance lies in its role as a formal government effort to scientifically analyze reports of unusual aerial objects, including those exhibiting advanced technology beyond known aviation capabilities. The program examined notable encounters such as the 2004 USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" sighting, where Navy pilots observed an oval-shaped object performing extraordinary maneuvers without visible propulsion. Other encounters investigated included the 2014-2015 incidents aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which were captured on declassified videos known as "Gimbal" and "GoFast".
Luis Elizondo, a former military intelligence officer, claimed to have led AATIP and later resigned, citing internal resistance and excessive secrecy surrounding the program. The program contracted with Bigelow Aerospace, a private company led by Robert Bigelow, known for his interests in UFOs and fringe science, to manage research and produce numerous reports assessing potential foreign aerospace threats.
Harry Reid's involvement was instrumental; as Senate Majority Leader, he secured funding and pushed for the establishment of AATIP, marking one of the first openly acknowledged government efforts in recent history to seriously explore UAPs. Although AATIP officially ended in 2012, its revelations in a 2017 New York Times article reignited public and governmental interest, leading to ongoing investigations and policy shifts toward greater transparency on UAPs.
The Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP) was a related U.S. government-funded program that ran concurrently with AATIP, led by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in collaboration with other government agencies and private contractors. The focus of AAWSAP was on researching advanced aerospace technologies that could have national security implications, including UAPs.
In the wake of AATIP's conclusion, Harry Reid and many UFO enthusiasts argue that the sightings and reports represent evidence of extraterrestrial life and the need for increased research and disclosure. Recently, the former leader of AATIP, James Lacatski, has published a book in which he discloses new insights about his time with the program and evidence supporting extraterrestrial technology.
The U.S. government's ongoing interest in UAPs is further evidenced by the establishment of the UAP Task Force in 2020. The task force's goal is to "detect, analyze and catalog UAPs that could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security." The New York Times has extensively covered the issue of UAP sightings and the government's involvement in researching the issue, while books like "The UFO People: A Curious Culture" by MJ Banias explore the culture of UFO enthusiasts and the growing interest in UAPs, including Harry Reid's involvement and his advocacy for increased government research and disclosure.
However, there is still much debate and skepticism surrounding the issue of UAPs, with some experts arguing that the sightings and reports can be explained by natural phenomena, misidentified aircraft, or human-made drones. Regardless, the existence and investigation of AATIP serve as a testament to the ongoing curiosity and pursuit of understanding the unexplained in the realm of aerospace technology.
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