FOIA Response DON-NAVY-2022-001613 regarding January 2019 F-18 Pilot Briefing

This document is a formal response from the Department of the Navy to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by John Greenewald of The Black Vault. The request sought records related to a January 2019 briefing given to Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Professional Staff Members (PSMs) by an F/A-18 pilot from VFA-103. The Navy identified one responsive document, which is included in the release, though portions are redacted under FOIA exemptions 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1) (national security), (b)(5) (deliberative process), and (b)(6) (personally identifiable information). The enclosed internal memorandum, classified as SECRET//NOFORN, details an After Action Report (AAR) regarding a 2015 anomalous aerial vehicle detection event off the coast of Jacksonville. The report notes that the pilot, serving as a Naval Flight Officer at the time, provided a detailed account of the encounter to the SASC PSMs. The staffers were described as professional but expressed disappointment regarding the Navy's lack of action following the incident and the absence of a clear chain of custody for video evidence of the encounter. The document also mentions that Senators Reed, Durbin, and Menendez were interested in the topic and that the SASC staffers anticipated the subject might arise during CNO posture hearings in early 2019.