(NewsNation) — Former and current industry officials discussed unidentified anomalous phenomena, aka UFOs, at a House of Representatives hearing Wednesday.
Held by the House Oversight Committee, the hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,” featured testimony from four witnesses on the often stigmatized subject.
Sparked by whistleblower David Grusch‘s claims about an alleged UFO retrieval program, the hearing featured testimony from former NASA administrator Michael Gold, Pentagon insider Lue Elizondo, journalist Michael Shellenberger and retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet.
NewsNation has spoken exclusively to three of the four.
Who is Michael Gold?
Gold is NASA’s former associate administrator of space policy and partnerships and a member of the organization’s independent UAP study team.
He’s also worked in the private sector as an executive at the now-defunct Bigelow Aerospace, headed by Robert Bigelow.
Currently, he works as chief growth officer at Redwire, an American aerospace manufacturer and serves as treasurer for the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. He was awarded NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2021.
Why is Michael Gold testifying at UAP hearing?
As a member of NASA’s independent UAP study team and the aerospace community’s commercial sector, Gold has a stake in the UFO game.
In his testimony at the hearing, Gold urged cooperation between NASA and those investigating UAPs in order to “combat the stigmatization” of the research.
What did Michael Gold say Wednesday?
Gold’s testimony focused on NASA’s ability to aid in UAP research.
“I believe NASA would be effective in collecting and disseminating data on UAP due to
its successful track record of collating information on aviation safety issues,” his testimony reads in part.
He outlined multiple ways NASA can help:
- Combat stigmatization of UAP
- Review archival data
- Reach out to international partners
- Solicit, archive, review and release civil and commercial UAP data
“In much the same way that AARO is responsible for collecting UAP data for the national
security community, NASA could serve a similar role for civilian and commercial operators,” Gold said.
He’s also called for an increase in NASA funding so that the organization can “successfully execute the Artemis program and all of its other vital scientific and exploratory activities.”
