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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE/JOINT STAFF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

Ref: 19-F-0948

December 15, 2025

Mr. John R Greenewald

The Black Vault, Inc.

27305 W. Live Oak Rd.

Suite #1203

Castaic, CA 91384

Dear Mr. Greenewald:

This is a final response to your March 27, 2019 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, a copy of which is enclosed for your convenience. The Office of the Secretary of Defense/Joint Staff (OSD/JS) FOIA Requester Service Center received your request on March 27, 2019, and assigned it FOIA case number 19-F-0948. We ask that you use this number when referring to your request.

The Defense Intelligence Agency, has determined that the responsive records are publicly available at:

chrome extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FileId/170016/

Additionally, I am providing a copy of the letter with this response. This constitutes a full grant of your request and closes your case file in this office. There are no assessable fees associated with this response.

If you have any questions or concerns about the foregoing or about the processing of your request, please do not hesitate to contact the Action Officer assigned to your request, Amy Steinfadt, at 571-372-0433 or amy.r.steinfadt.civ@mail.mil. Additionally, if you have concerns about service received by our office, please contact a member of our Leadership Team at 571-372-0498 or Toll Free at 866-574-4970.

Should you wish to inquire about mediation services, you may contact the OSD/JS FOIA Public Liaison, Virginia Burke, by email at osd.mc-alex.oatsd-pclt.mbx.foia-liaison@mail.mil or by phone at 571-372-0462. You may also contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer at: email at ogis@nara.gov, or phone at 202-741-5770 or 1-877-684-6448.

You have the right to appeal to the appellate authority, Mr. Michael Kremlacek, Acting Principal Deputy to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency (PCLT), Office of the Secretary of Defense, at: 4800 Mark Center Drive, ATTN: PCLFD, FOIA Appeals, Mailbox #24, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700. Your appeal must be postmarked within 90 calendar days of the date of this response. Alternatively, you may email your appeal to osd.foia-

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appeal@mail.mil. If you use email, please include the words "FOIA Appeal" in the subject of the email. Please also reference FOIA case number 19-F-0948 in any appeal correspondence.

We appreciate your patience in the processing of your request. As stated previously, please contact the Action Officer assigned to your request, Amy Steinfadt, and reference FOIA case number 19-F-0948, if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Stephen L. Fisher

Enclosure:

Pamela Andrews

As stated

For Chief, FOIA

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This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of:

The Black Vault

The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military.

Discover the Truth at http://www.theblackvault.com

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United States Senate

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-7012

June 24, 2009

Honorable William Lynn III

Deputy Secretary of Defense

1010 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1010

Dear Secretary Lynn

Beginning this past September, the U.S. Senate has mandated that the Defense Intelligence Agency assess far-term foreign advanced aerospace threats to the United States. The scope of program interest covers from the present out to forty years and beyond. In order to further our effort in recognizing emerging disruptive aerospace technologies, technical studies are being conducted in regard to advanced lift, propulsion, the use of unconventional materials and controls, signature reduction, weaponry, human interface and human effects.

Since the Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program (AAITP) and study were first commissioned, much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings. Given the current rate of success, the continued study of these subjects will likely lead to technology advancements that in the immediate near-term will require extraordinary protection. Due to the sensitivities of the information surrounding aspects of this program, I require your assistance in establishing a Restricted Special-Access Program (SAP) with a Bigoted Access List for specific portions of the AATIP.

In order to support this national effort, a small but highly specialized cadre of Department of Defense (DoD) and private sector individuals are necessary. These individuals must be specialized in the areas of advanced sciences, sensors, intelligence/counterintelligence, and advanced aerospace engineering. Given the likelihood that these technologies will be applied to future systems involving space flight, weapons, communications, and propulsion, the standard management and safeguarding procedures for classified information are not sufficient. Even the use of conventional SAP protocols will not adequately ensure that all aspects of the project are properly secured. Although not every aspect of AATIP requires Restricted SAP read-on, the following portions should be maintained at the Restricted SAP level:

The methodology used to identify, acquire, study, and engineer the advanced technologies associated with AATIP.

Specific methodologies used to study unconventional technology may require nuanced approaches that will undoubtedly be of significant interest if not a top priority for adversarial Foreign Intelligence Security Services (FISS).

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o Undue attention by government, or private sector entities, not involved in AATIP or any international interest will directly or indirectly interfere with the daily AATIP mission and perhaps threaten the overall success of the program.

• Allocation of personnel, support, and oversight.

Due to the highly specialized nature of the personnel involved with AATIP, the overt acknowledgement of their participation in the program will lead to an unnecessary security and counterintelligence risk.

Occasional assistance from specialized individuals within DoD, the scientific community, or academia may be necessary from time to time based on demonstrated subject matter expertise. Adequate protection of their identities or affiliation is critical to avoid unnecessary scrutiny.

o Without the appropriate Restricted SAP protection, the cost associated with a compromise would be significantly higher than the cost associated with a properly administered Restricted SAP.

o Protection of industry partnerships and participation is critical. Public awareness of an industry's AATIP affiliation may discourage that industry's further participation with the U.S. Government in this program.

- Application and engineering.

The nuanced manner in which some of these technologies will be collected, engineered and applied by the U.S. may require senior level government approval. These decision makers must be afforded the necessary time to make strategic decisions by restricting access to the "big picture" or overall intent of the program to those on a strict Bigoted List.

o Associated exotic technologies likely involve extremely sophisticated concepts within the world of quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravitics, and thermodynamics. Given that all of these have the potential to be used with catastrophic effects by adversaries, an unusually high degree of operational security and read-on discretion is required.

Due to the expertise required to carry out the objectives of this program, we will require a small, specialized group of DoD personnel, who are dedicated to performing the SAP-related functions and executing programmatic requirements within the program. It is essential that the Government & military personnel who are already involved with this program are assigned to further support this program in a Restricted SAP capacity (see Attachment 1). These individuals all currently possess the appropriate security clearances and are already providing unique support to AATIP.

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Ultimately, the results of AATIP will not only benefit the U.S. Government but I believe will directly benefit DoD in ways not yet imagined. The technological insight and capability gained will provide the U.S. with a distinct advantage over any foreign threats and allow the U.S. to maintain its preeminence as a world leader.

Thank you in advance from your time and consideration of this request. If you or your staff have any questions, please contact (b)(6)

Sincerely,

YannykReil

HARRY REID

HR:rth

United States Senator

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Attachment 1

Sponsoring Agency: Undetermined (DEPSECDEF)

Component-level SAP Central Office: Undetermined (DEPSECDEF)

Unclassified Nickname: Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP)

Program Length: FY09-FY13 (Preliminary)

Program Funding: FY09-O&M, FY10-FY13-TBD

SAP Category Designation: Intelligence, DoD Acquisition

FY 10 Preliminary Bigoted List of Government Personnel:

Honorable William Lynn III, Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gov't)
Honorable Senator Harry Reid of Nevada (Gov't)
Honorable Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii (Gov't)
Robert T. Herbert (U.S. Senate)
$ \overline{(b)(3):10\ USC\ 424:(b)(6)} $
USDI (Gov't)

FY 10 Preliminary Bigoted List of Contractor Personnel funded under the AATIP:

(CTR) (b)(6) Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies LLC (BAASS),
BAASS (CTR) BAASS (CTR)

This document contains information exempt from mandatory disclosure under the FOIA. Exemptions 1 and 5 apply.

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