22-F-0249_PA_EST_AOI_Mgmt_Sync_Group_05-16-23.pdf

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
1010 DEFENSE PENTAGON 
WASHINGTON , DC 20301 -1010 
NOV 2 3 2021 
MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP 
COMMANDERSOFTHECOMBATANTCOMMANDS 
DEFENSE AGENCY AND FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS 
SUBJECT: Establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management 
Synchronization Group 
The presence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) in Special Use Airspace 
(SUA), designated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 73, represents a potential safety of flight 
risk to aircrews and raises potential national security concerns. Accordingly, I direct the 
Under Secretary of …

submit implementation guidance for my approval. This guidance will specify organizational 
membership, roles, responsibilities and authorities for the AOIMSG, AOIMEXEC, and 
OSD and DoD Components. 
~--L 
•" 
cc: 
Director of National Intelligence 
2 

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From: 
Sent: 
Subject: 
Media colleagues, 
t1>)(6) 
Thursday, December 9, 2021 9:50 PM 
AOIMSG Question 
In Wednesday's press briefing, Travis Tritten, Military.com, asked about the Airborne Object Identification and 
Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG). If you haven't seen Deputy Secretary Hicks' memo, you can see it 
here: https://media.defense.gov /2021/Nov/23/2002898596/-1/-1/0/ESTABLISH ME NT-OF-THE-AIRBORNE-OBJECT-
1 DENTI FICATI ON-AN D-MANAG EM ENT-SYNCH RON IZATION-GROU P .PDF 
You may attribute the below to Sue Gough, Department of Defense spokesperson: 
"As directed by D…

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, U.S. 
--- 0EPT OF 
DEFENSE 
OSD(PA) BRIEFING CARD 
AOIMSG Establishment 
December 9, 2021 
Executive Summary 
Public and news media interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) remains high. On Nov. 
23, 2021, DSD signed a memo announcing the establishment of the Airborne Object 
Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) as the successor to the 
UAPTF; the memo also established the Airborne Object Identification and Management 
Executive Council (AOIMEXEC) to provide oversight of the AOIMSG. The draft FY22 NOAA 
approved by the House on Dec. 7 contains a section…

Questions and Answers 
Q. [If asked about the AOIMSG/AOIMEXEC prior to publishing of implementing guidance] 
A. "As directed by Deputy Secretary Hicks in her memo, we're currently transitioning the UAP 
Task Force and its ongoing efforts to the AOIMSG. We're also working on additional 
implementing guidance on the AOIMSG, as well as the Airborne Object Identification and 
Management Executive Council (AOIMEXEC), for Deputy Secretary Hicks' approval, per her 
memo. Once that guidance is approved and published, the transition from UAPTF is AOIMSG 
is complete, and the AOIMEXEC has had its first …

~ .... 
, U.S. 
--- 0EPTOF 
DEFENSE 
OSD(PA) BRIEFING CARD 
AOIMSG Establishment 
November 23, 2021 
Executive Summary 
Public and news media interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) remains high. ODNI 
submitted a preliminary assessment report to Congress on June 25, 2021, as required by the SSCI 
report attached to the FY20 NDAA. That report noted the challenges associated with assessing 
UAP occurring on or near DOD training ranges and installations highlighted and also identified 
the need to make improvements in processes, policies, technologies, and training to improve our 
abilit…

• 
The selection ofUSD(I&S) and the Director of Operations, Joint Staff on the AOIMEXEC 
reflect the Department's characterization of this issue as both an operational and intelligence 
problem, and provides strengthened guidance to ensure appropriate efforts are undertaken in 
each area. 
• 
Implementing guidance with fmther details on the AOIMSG Director, organizational 
structure, authorities, and resourcing, is forthcoming. 
Questions and Answers 
Q. Why is the Deputy Secretary replacing the UAPTF? 
A. The DNI report to Congress highlighted the challenges associated with assessing airborne…

Q. Why is the memo using the term "airborne object" (rather than UAP)? 
A. The tenn "UAP" still refers to items that are unidentified. The ODNI report in June 2021 
noted that most objects were unidentified due to incomplete data. Therefore, this effort seeks to 
proactively detect, identify and attribute objects to help minimize the overall number of items 
that are classified as UAP. Additionally, as we've said, we need more data, including more 
reporting. One way to do that is to destigmatize UAP reporting by standardizing and 
n01malizing reporting of airborne objects in SUA - whether the…