NOAA Emails Reveal Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet's Engagement With UFO Investigations

NOAA has released a batch of emails under the Freedom of Information Act that shed light on Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet’s involvement with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) during his tenure at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The documents, obtained through a FOIA request filed in July 2023 and released in May 2026, cover emails from October 25, 2017, to January 20, 2021. These communications contain references to UAP-related keywords such as "UFO," "UAPTF," and "AOIMSG."

The FOIA response revealed that NOAA located 51 relevant records spanning 245 pages. Of these, 167 pages were fully disclosed, while 78 pages contained redactions under privacy protections. The emails indicate Gallaudet's awareness of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) and his participation in an interagency Executive Steering Committee chaired by a Navy official overseeing UAP investigations.

In particular, an August 17, 2020, email from Gallaudet mentions his involvement with another interagency committee chaired by the Office of Naval Intelligence’s chief. This suggests that despite not being directly part of the UAPTF, Gallaudet was connected to its leadership through other government coordination mechanisms. His statement, "I will!" in response to getting answers on UAPs, underscores his interest and engagement with these matters.

The released documents provide insight into how information about UAPs circulated within federal agencies during Gallaudet's time at NOAA. While they do not reveal extensive details of the UAP programs themselves, they highlight the interconnectedness of government officials involved in such investigations and their efforts to coordinate across different departments.