Email Correspondence Regarding Navy Statement on Unexplained Aerial Phenomena Reporting

This document consists of an internal email thread within the U.S. Navy, dated April 2019, regarding the management of media inquiries following a Politico article about the Navy's new guidelines for reporting unidentified aerial phenomena. The correspondence involves key personnel including Captain Joseph Gradisher, B. Lynn Wright, and Captain Greg Hicks. The primary focus of the emails is to coordinate a unified response to follow-up questions from the Washington Post and other media outlets. The Navy's official statement, which was provided to the press, acknowledges that there have been reports of unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft entering military-controlled ranges and designated airspace in recent years. The Navy emphasizes that these reports are taken seriously for safety and security reasons. The internal discussions reveal that the Navy is updating and formalizing its reporting process to better understand the source and nature of these observations, specifically citing the proliferation of inexpensive unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as a contributing factor to airspace complexity. The emails also clarify that the Navy is not working with entities outside the U.S. government on this issue and that security considerations preclude the disclosure of the specific, aircraft-sensitive nature of the new guidelines. The correspondence highlights the Navy's efforts to maintain aviation safety and its commitment to keeping Congressional members and staff informed through briefings by senior Naval Intelligence officials and aviators.