FOIA 18-F-0324 release

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
5000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-5000
INTELLIGENCE
INFO MEMO
MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
FROM: Garry Reid, Director for Defense Intelligence, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
for Intelligence
SUBJECT: (U) Response to Your Questions on the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification
Program (AATIP) and Actions of Former DoD Employee Luis Elizondo
(U// BLUF: This memorandum provides responds to your six questions regarding the
actions of former DoD employee Luis Elizondo. Responses to your questions on the AATIP are
in the classified enclosure. The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) is
conducting an inquiry to determine if Mr. Elizondo mishandled classified information.
• (U, Question 1: "I want to know more about his abrupt resignation — why?"
Response: Mr. Elizondo has provided three different explanations for his sudden resignation.
On October 31d he told his direct supervisor he was resigning because he had a fleeting job
opportunity that required his immediate availability. In a memorandum dated October 4th he
cited his concerns over inaction within the Department over "anomalous aerospace threats"
as the reason for his resignation. On October 6th, via a phone call, he told me he resigned
because his job was too stressful on his family.
• (UL Question 2: "Did CI immediately review?" Response: Yes. We referred the
timing and circumstances of Mr. Elizondo's resignation to the AFOSI. Their informal
assessment did not find any wrongdoing by Mr. Elizondo, and absent any indicators of
misconduct, they were unable to open a formal investigation.
• Question 3: "Was subject "read-out" of all classified responsibilities between his
Oct 3 notification/resignation letter and his departure 24 hours later?" Response: Yes. Mr.
Elizondo completed all administrative and security related out-processing, including formal
debriefs for all SAPs, SCI, and compartmented programs.
• (tJis Question 4: "What was the "uncertain provenance" you refer to regarding
subject second letter/MFR?" Response: The letter was hand delivered to the USDI Chief of
Staff office by someone other than Mr. Elizondo. The letter is not consistent with the first
resignation letter Mr. Elizondo personally handed his supervisor. After my phone call with
Mr. Elizondo, in which he said he had been secretly working for the Secretary, I checked
with two senior officials that have knowledge of special programs; our collective assessment