The Pentagon’s permanent office for investigating unexplained aerial encounters has built a rigorous, data-driven process that fuses sensor feeds from radar, infrared, electro-optical, and acoustic systems to analyze reports of unidentified phenomena across air, sea, space, and land. Known as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the office coordinates with the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and the Department of Energy as part of its investigation process. A secure reporting portal is available to both military and civilian personnel who may have relevant information.
A Shift From Ad Hoc Programs to a Standing Office
The United States government has investigated reports of unidentified flying objects for decades, but the modern era of official Pentagon interest began in 2007 with the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a Defense Intelligence Agency effort that examined military encounters with unknown craft. That program lost funding and closed in 2012.
In 2017, the Pentagon acknowledged its existence, and public attention grew. Congress soon pressed for a more structured approach. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), which operated under the Office of Naval Intelligence to standardize the collection and reporting of sightings. The task force issued a preliminary report to Congress in June 2021.
The following year, the Pentagon replaced the task force with a new, permanent office. That office is AARO, established in July 2022.
It sits within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and investigates anomalous phenomena not only in the air but also at sea, in space, and on land. Its first director was a physicist; a new director was appointed later. AARO’s creation marked a shift from ad hoc programs to a standing office with dedicated staff and resources.
Congress has required quarterly reports from the office. In 2024, AARO released a volume examining the historical record of U.S. government involvement with such phenomena.
That report found no empirical evidence of alien technology.
Science, Sensors, and Multidisciplinary Analysis
AARO employs a multi-disciplinary approach that combines sensor data from multiple sources. Its methodology includes fusing data from radar, infrared, electro-optical, and acoustic systems. In 2023, the office established a standardized reporting form and created a data repository for storing and managing reports.
Machine learning algorithms analyze patterns in the collected data. The office collaborates with the National Reconnaissance Office for satellite data.
AARO’s 2024 report described using advanced physics models to assess the flight characteristics of reported phenomena. The office prioritizes cases with multiple sensor corroboration and potential national security implications. Beyond its own analysts, the office maintains a Science and Technology Advisory Panel that includes experts from academia.
This panel provides additional expertise to support the investigation process. The office continues to operate by drawing on multiple government agencies and the advisory panel, ensuring a broad base of knowledge for evaluating reports.
Staffing, Budget, and Continued Oversight
AARO has 40 staff members, including analysts, engineers, and intelligence officers. The office’s budget for fiscal year 2023 was $10 million, increasing to $20 million in 2024.
This increased budget suggests continued commitment to the work. AARO publishes quarterly reports to Congress, providing ongoing insight into the office’s findings. For those with questions about specific reports or the investigation process, the AARO secure reporting portal is available for anyone who may have relevant information to share. Why this work matters now is straightforward: military pilots and other personnel continue to report encounters with objects that defy easy explanation.
Legislators from both parties have pressed for transparency and rigorous analysis. The possibility that a foreign adversary has achieved a technological leap remains a national security concern.
AARO is the primary vehicle for separating mundane explanations from genuine threats. Its findings inform policy, military readiness, and public understanding of a subject that has long generated speculation. The office’s work is unlikely to settle every debate, but it provides an official, evidence-based process for addressing a persistent mystery.
