“If the existence of intelligent alien life is established, it will prompt the biggest transformation in humanity’s outlook since Copernicus.”
~Christopher Mellon responding to James Iandoli @EngagingThe
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By Joe Murgia – @ufojoe11 on Twitter
Former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Christopher Mellon, answered questions related to UFOs/UAP on Twitter today. Here’s every question and answer from that slightly-longer-than-one-hour, session. Mellon is currently a member of the advisory board for “To The Stars Academy of Art and Science.”
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Question from @_jraza: “Did the pilots observe the object’s rotation with their own eyes in the Gimbal video?”
Mellon: “They clearly observe it rotating, as you can hear them saying “Look, it’s rotating!” in the #GIMBAL video. Unclear to me, though, if they’re just tracking on FLIR or making visual contact. However Cmdr. Fravor and others have made visual contact at close range w/ good visibility.”
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Question from @DeepStateDan: “Is it plausible that the #UAP #UFO subject has been buried deep within private industry to avoid government oversight and public scrutiny? And if so, what can be done to identify the private entities in possession of the data (or technology)?”
Mellon: “It is possible that there are aspects of this that are in private sector hands. The best way for senior government officials to identify that would probably be through the DoD SAPOC (Special Access Program Oversight Committee) mechanism. However, could be under DOE or CIA too.”
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Question from @The_Real_Klaatu: “Have Congressional committees been open to receiving briefings and how have they reacted to the information? Have you been surprised, pleasantly or otherwise, to how they are responding thus far? Is that the key to getting more data out in the public sector?”
Mellon: “Yes, there’s been briefings/discussions on CH. There’s still fear of stigma, note the hostility about the issue even after the USG has acknowledged this is real, so they’re proceeding behind closed doors for now. Still, they’re beginning to look into the issue and seek answers.”
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Question from @StephenApWales: “Based on your knowledge and experience of military encounters with UAPs – has there been occurrences when communication has been established with the UAPs?”
Mellon: “No, not to my knowledge. There is a case involving a foreign military where such claims were made, but I have no way of validating that.”
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Question from: @DUMBSnDIRDS: “Hi Chris, is there a possibility the SCOUT app could eventually have access to NASIC’s or any other filtered USG’s data feeds for live tracked ‘unknown’s’ ?”
Mellon: “If there are unclassified data feeds that might be possible, but it is too soon to say.”
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Question from @UAPbug: “What’s happening with the craft TTSA was going to build. Any progress?”
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Question from @mikeb8637: “Reporter @g_knapp has speculated there are other, better funded UFO programs that should come to light. Word is about 4 of them in existence for many decades. Do you feel confident we will learn about more programs in the near future?”
Mellon: “I’m not sure what programs he is referring to but I see no evidence DoD is about to release info. about new, undisclosed, classified programs on this topic. We applaud DoD’s recent openness regarding the videos however we would like to see greater transparency going forward.”
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Question from @Hasterx1: “How were active Navy pilots able to speak on classified training exercises? Did they have the Navy’s permission to speak on your show?”
Mellon: “The training exercises were not classified so no issues there. Indeed, the Navy was exemplary in terms of allowing the pilot to speak to us on the record and, to date, the pilots report no negative repercussions. Go Navy!”
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Question from @The_Real_Klaatu: “How would the team respond to criticism of a small group claiming TTSA is positioning #UAP as a potential threat to create a “defense” narrative around the topic? This seems simply a way to engage those who only respond to something if they think its a POTENTIAL threat.”
Mellon: “We were motivated by the lack of support for pilots concerned about threats to from these aircraft, from mid-air collisions, or possibly worse. ATM, we see no need for increased def. spending. We simply think the issue needs to be vigorously investigated together with some R&D.”
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Question from @Daversa2: “I’m curious about the disparate levels of confidence your team has in the evidence and materials you or the government possess.”
Mellon: “We naturally have somewhat different views on some topics given our different backgrounds and perspectives. I think that is to be expected. And we aren’t all privy to the same info. For example, Lue and I were privy to different info than Tom as former DoD officials.”
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Question from @mikedamante: “Thanks for getting credible mainstream outlets to cover this (NYT, CNN, WaPo, etc.) ! My question is does appearing on disinformation programs like Glenn Beck/ Hannity do more hurt than good?”
Mellon: “I don’t regard the UAP issue as a partisan topic, and Lue and I do interviews for all manner of press. I have independently written about my concerns and distaste for excessive partisanship and the problems it poses.”
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Question from @IvanBuchanJanus: “Has there been any tangible progress on the international stage? What kind of progress, do you believe, has been achieved by other countries in tracking, investigating, and replicating these phenomena? And, lastly, are you seeing positive momentum?”
Mellon: “There is growing international interest. In 2018, for example, the Chinese government-funded an international UFO symposium focused on high tech issues. Lue recently returned from a visit to Latin America that will feature prominently in an upcoming episode of #UNIDENTIFIED.”
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Question from @EngagingThe: “If @TTSAcademy could only accomplish one goal(in my opinion you’ve already accomplished a great deal) – What would the most important thing that comes out of all this?”
Mellon: “Great question! If the existence of intel. alien life is established, it will prompt the biggest transformation in humanity’s outlook since Copernicus. If instead we find Russia/China has leapfrogged the US technologically, the stakes are still enormous– Sputnik x1000.”
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Question from @m_guillaum: “Can you address how the understanding/realization of the UFO/UAP being a real phenomenon has changed you and other members of TTSA at a personal level?”
Mellon: “Wow, interesting question. I’m proud of what we have achieved in a short period of time but also keenly aware that the ramifications are immense and potentially very concerning. The more concrete the issue becomes the more weighty it becomes.”
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Question from @DualitySupposed: “How do you guys straddle the confidentiality issues that are inherent with Disclosure of these matters? What’s it like to work with people that know things but can’t breach their confidentiality?”
Mellon: “People in the IC live with that all the time. Even among people with TS clearances there are all manner of restricted compartments. I once had to live with a report that terrorists had smuggled a nuke into DC and I couldn’t warn friends and neighbors to get out of town! That was difficult, this is not.”
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Question from me, @ufojoe11: “May 2016, Leslie Kean asked: ‘Are u certain there is no gov’t cover-up?’ Mellon: ‘It’s impossible 2 prove the negative, so all I can say is that I never saw any evidence of official interest in UFOs.’ – So, when did u start trying 2 help Lue & AATIP get info. 2 Mattis?”
Mellon: “No, I am not sure. Uncle Sam has a big basement and rummaging around there can turn up all manner of things. However, I think the central problem at the moment is the lack of government interest and effort to get to the bottom of the issue.”
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Question from @DeepStateDan: “If the 3 videos released thus far were unclassified (and it’s arguable whether they ever were) it begs the question: why? It seems out of character to release footage like this unless the content is unremarkable or part of a planned disclosure campaign.”
Mellon: “DoD has thoroughly reviewed the videos and publicly stated: “After a thorough review, the dept. has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sens. capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena.”
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Question from @uelbus: “Could you clear up the problem with the “GO FAST” video, about the actual height and speed of the object? Why does trigonometry show the opposite of what you analysis show? This would answer a lot of questions.”
@uelbus included this tweet from @MickWest: “TTSA has faulty analysis on their web site. Demonstrated literally years ago. Prime example is claiming “GOFAST” is “high speed” and “very low over the water”, when trig proves it is not. @ChristopherKMe4, you are on the TTSA Advisory Board. Will you advise them to fix this?”
Mellon: “I think the speed is modest but also not the issue. How does something without wings or exhaust stay aloft at any speed and fly straight and true? If it were lighter than air, it would be buffeted by the wind rather than flying such a perfectly straight path. However, the UAP case does not depend on this or any other video. We know from the Nimitz aviators and Princeton crew that a 50ft long white object achieved hypersonic speed from a near hover in seconds after being observed descending from extreme altitudes and hovering.”
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Question from @LeifNordh: “If Kevin Day assisted commander David Fravor towards the Tic Tac #UAP via the SPY radar on USS Princeton then Who on radar assisted Chad Underwood during the filming of the Tic Tac?”
Mellon: “Hi Leif, I do not have the name I’m afraid. I would point out that we know from Fravor, his WSO, his wingman, Day, E2 Hawkeye, and others that the TicTac performed maneuvers no known aircraft can come remotely close to performing.”
Mellon also linked to this SCU report:
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Question from @StaticNoiseLog: “Please have a look at these videos (ignoring the condescending tone) and comment on why TTSA thinks these mundane explanations (bird, plane and gimbal) are not enough.
(Ideas taken from Mick West, it seems.)”
Mellon: “The issue is no longer TTSA’s analysis but that of DoD. DoD pilots & analysts have rejected these explanations for a variety of reasons: Gimbal, the aircraft would be visible, not just the heat of the exhaust; a jet could not move in that manner and retain lift; same with FLIR. In terms of Go Fast, it does not behave like a lighter than air object. Mellon also linked to this report.
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Question from @blakevtruelov: “Hi Chris. Elated you’re doing this for those interested in @TTSAcademy. Have you yourself ever had any “anomalous” experiences?”
Mellon: “No, I have not but I am humbled by the experiences US military personnel have shared with me. There is no substitute for hearing these experiences first hand.”
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Question from @bobofango86: “Have you been in contact with the crew of the E2 Hawkeye that was in the air during Fravor’s intercept of the tic tac? Will their NDA’s prevent us from ever hearing from them? Will we ever see the entire uncut ATFLIR footage of the tic tac?”
Question from @JaunMancha: “Other than “these objects are real” do we know anything about the phenomenon at this stage… like what it is, who it is, where it’s from, etc?”
Mellon: “Our government hasn’t bothered even to pull data from existing sensor systems much less engage in a vigorous investigation. Here’s a memo in which I expand on this issue at an unclassified level to help members of Congress and their staff better understand the opportunity.” Mellon then linked to this article.
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Mellon answer the question again about Knapp’s sources telling him there are up to four other UFO programs: “All of us at TTSA would like to see greater government transparency. Here is some legislation I have proposed to assist Congress and the American people in getting answers.” Mellon included this link.
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Question from @BogusBrooke: “Do the vast majority of people in the intelligence community believe that the UFOs could in fact be alien?”
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Question from @briankuh: “When will Season 2 of “Unidentified” air?
Mellon: “July.”
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Question from @ColonelQuestion: “What can U.S. citizens who want to help with this issue do? Is writing letters really going to help?”
Mellon: “Won’t hurt.”
@ColonelQuestion: “Is there really nothing else w can do?”
Mellon: “I worked in constituent services for a senator many years ago. In my experience, different politicians place differing degrees of emphasis on constituent-feedback. Some put letters right in the trash, others have staffers read through them.”
aatip, aawsap, alien, ama, christopher mellon, Delonge, mellon, To The Stars, tom delonge, TTSA, uap, ufo
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