Luis Elizondo Hints at 'Something Big' Coming Regarding UFO Disclosure in Interview with George Knapp

Luis Elizondo (left) being interviewed by George Knapp (right foreground) on December 14th, 2018. (Image credit: CBS 8 Las Vegas)

Luis Elizondo, former Department of Defense (DoD) intelligence officer and program head for the secret Pentagon UFO project named the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP), said in an interview with journalist George Knapp on December 14th that "people would be surprised to know just how frequent and the volume at which [UFOs] are apparently recorded and observed by active duty military people on missions," and hinted at "new information" about which, if it got out, people would be "very, very surprised."

Elizondo asked that people be patient while waiting for disclosure, citing the need for personnel new to the issue to be able to digest facts relevant to the UFO phenomenon.

"There’s a legitimate concern, of course you want to address it, but in the same respect there are a lot of people who are impatient for information...and rightfully so. I get it, we’re human beings, we want our information and we want it now," Elizondo said. "But sometimes you have to let the right people in the right positions digest information."

The former intelligence officer was reluctant to provide specifics, but hinted at significant military interest and involvement with UFOs. In response to Knapp asking about whether or not we can expect significant disclosure, Elizondo responded:

When you say something big is coming, what does that mean? Well, it can mean a whole bunch of things. From my perspective, my goal has always been being able to get the right information to the right people in the right places. That’s really what it is about for me. And informing those individuals so decisions can be made so we can really take a look at this issue from a holistic—a collective—perspective…But I think in the course of doing that we’ve made significant progress in certain key areas. I think we have a much better understanding of the breadth and scope that the Department of Defense has played in recent times...not historical times back in the ‘40s and ‘50s, I’m talking very recent—regarding the UFO phenomenon. I think people would be surprised to know just how frequent and the volume at which these things are apparently recorded and observed by active duty military people on missions—around the world, by the way. There’s also some very interesting, I think, congruences, some interesting relationships that are just now really coming into light for the very first time. New information that I think if people found out would be very, very surprised.

Elizondo was similarly evasive when asked about tangible evidence of UFOs, but explained caution is necessary prior to making any judgments of the evidence, as well as expressing concern for the privacy of those involved.

I think there’s a lot of things out there that we’re looking into to include tangibles. Tangibles in a real sense that will hopefully allow us to have a more comprehensive conversation...There’s a lot of analysis, there’s a lot of homework that needs to be done. And probably the most irresponsible thing that I could do right now is say one thing one way and it turns out to be something else...And we’re going to leave no stone unturned. And so far, the stones that we have turned over somehow have yielded some really, pretty fantastic results. But we still have a lot of stones to turn over. I can say, as a matter of fact, there seems to be finally a slight turning of the tide. There are now individuals that are more receptive to having the conversation than they were even just a year ago. And data is forthcoming, so that’s a good thing—data is beginning to flow in the direction it’s supposed to flow in and decisions can now finally be made that need to be made. That’s, in fact, from my perspective, that’s a huge accomplishment, but at the same time we also have to respect these individual’s privacy, we have to respect their professional positions, and allow them to collect as much data as they can before they really do anything with it. Keep in mind, there’s a lot of data out there, right? And it would be almost a dereliction of duty for anybody to make a decision preemptively without having all the necessary data in front of them.

Elizondo and others involved in the public benefit corporation To the Stars...Academy of Arts and Science have slowly disseminated information on UFOs since news of the Pentagon’s secret UFO program broke in December of 2017, but the speed at which information has so far been released has been met with doubt and impatience from many in the UFO community.

No definitive plans for disclosure were revealed during the interview, but Knapp did ask if perhaps the Pentagon might launch a new, publicly acknowledged UFO study effort.

"Wouldn't that be a great accomplishment George?" replied Elizondo.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to support the Singular Fortean Society, please consider becoming an official member by signing up through our Patreon page—membership includes a ton of extra content and behind-the-scenes access to the Society’s inner workings.