KONA BLUE Prospective Special Access Program (PSAP) Documentation

This collection of documents details the history, proposed structure, and eventual termination of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prospective special access program (PSAP) known as KONA BLUE. The program originated from the earlier Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program (AATIP), which was sponsored by Senators Harry Reid and Daniel Inouye in 2008. Following the conclusion of the DIA's AATIP contract in December 2010, efforts were made to transition the research into a DHS-led program. In 2011, DHS Science & Technology (S&T) officials, including Under Secretary Tara O'Toole, proposed KONA BLUE to continue the investigation of advanced aerospace vehicles and anomalous phenomena. The proposed program was structured around seven operational centers: Data Collection, Data Analysis, Advanced Technology, Experimental, Consciousness, Medical, and Education. These centers were intended to analyze recovered materials, conduct site monitoring, and study the physiological effects of interactions with anomalous phenomena. The program faced significant internal review regarding its necessity, budget, and alignment with DHS mission requirements. Despite initial support and planning, including the identification of potential facilities in Las Vegas and Utah, the program was formally terminated on February 10, 2012, by Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute. The final determination was that the DHS would not execute the proposed activities, and the program was closed down with all personnel debriefed. The documents include internal memoranda, meeting minutes from the Special Access Program Oversight Committee (SAPOC), and correspondence between government officials, confirming that no additional information associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP was discovered following the search of pertinent records.