How the DoD is keeping tabs on UAP-related FOIA requests

This document, authored by Marc Cecotti on March 13, 2021, investigates how the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) manages Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests concerning Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). The author details his own experience filing FOIA requests with the Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN) in January 2021, seeking correspondence between the Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) regarding UAP. The resulting released documents, which include a July 10, 2020, email thread, provide evidence of a centralized control mechanism over UAP-related information. In the email exchange, Navy Captain Joseph F. Gradisher, acting as the Navy point of contact for UAP queries, confirms that all media inquiries are directed to OSD Public Affairs and spokesperson Susan Gough. Crucially, Gradisher admits that while the normal FOIA process is followed, FOIA offices are requested to coordinate with OSD on UAP-related responses before they are finalized. This coordination is intended to prevent the introduction of new terminology or language that might complicate the DoD's overall messaging strategy. Furthermore, the correspondence mentions the existence of a security classification guidance document at the SECRET level that governs what may be discussed publicly regarding UAP. The author concludes that this evidence demonstrates a deliberate effort by the DoD to control the flow of information and maintain a consistent narrative regarding UAP, raising concerns about the transparency of the FOIA process in relation to this sensitive topic.