Meet NASA’s Newly Appointed UFO Chief – Exploring Extraterrestrial Discoveries

NASA has appointed a new director to lead its investigation of UFOs, adopting a more science-based approach. This decision comes in response to recommendations from a 16-member independent panel tasked with exploring how NASA can enhance its investigation of UFOs, also known as UAPs or “unidentified anomalous phenomena.” The panel’s 33-page report, released on Thursday, urges NASA to expand its involvement in the field. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “This is the first time that NASA has taken concrete action to seriously look into UAP,” and assured transparency in the agency’s efforts. Initially, NASA declined to disclose the new director’s name, but later revealed it as Mark McInerney, who previously served as NASA’s liaison with the Defense Department regarding UAPs. The agency’s hesitation to name him was due to harassment and threats faced by panel members, which included university professors, an astronaut, and a journalist. Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s science mission directorate, urged people to treat McInerney with respect in his pivotal role of helping NASA scientifically understand UAPs. 

The panel’s report emphasizes the need for a rigorous, evidence-based, and data-driven scientific framework to comprehend UAPs. As the report states, “Despite numerous accounts and visuals, the absence of consistent, detailed, and curated observations means we do not presently have the body of data needed to make definitive, scientific conclusions about UAP.” It suggests that NASA collect environmental data concurrent with UAP reports and involve the public, potentially through an app. Panel chair David Spergel, an astrophysicist, highlighted the vast amount of data that can be captured by cellphones, including high-quality images, sounds, and precise locations. He encouraged individuals to collect data when they encounter something they don’t understand, as this data can be aggregated and analyzed. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency, stating, “We’re in a world of discovery, and whatever we find, we’re going to tell you.” For more stories on UFOs, visit Newser.