AARO Phillips Emails 2024 (FOIA 24-F-0894)

staff on the findings of the Historical Record Report
BLUF: Both briefs were well attended and went well. Dr. Kirkpatrick attended
the first brief and the majority of the second brief. Questions were robust
in both sessions and the staff seemed appreciative of the information and
AARO's work. There are a few due outs.
Session 1: Compartmented Annex Brief to Senior Staff; 1300 - 1400
The session was well attended. Staff Directors and Clerks from all six
intelligence and defense committees attended, along with Senate Leadership
National Security Advisors (House Leadership NSA's were invited but did not
attend). Mr. Phillips delivered prepared opening remarks to convey the key
takeaways from the report, before inviting questions from the attendees.
Although it seemed most in the room had not had the chance to read the annex
in advance of the session, the discussion was robust. Staff asked numerous
questions about the individuals AARO interviewed as part of the review, and
some of the noteworthy programs to include KONA BLUE. Staff also asked
questions to better understand AARO perspectives on risk and CI implications
of the findings in the report. DoD SAPCO provided copies of the annex for
reference during the brief and Mr. Phillips, Dr. Kirkpatrick, and
(b)(6) highlighted different sections during the Q&A session to provide
context and additional detail. At the end of the session, staff asked for
perspectives and recommendations for countering inaccurate or misleading
narratives related to UAP based on the review. The staff were appreciative
of the information and thanked the panel for the time.
Session 2: TS//SCI Brief to Intelligence and Defense Committee PSMs; 1400 -
1530
This session was also well attended. 24 PSMs representing all six of the
invited committees joined the session. SSCI Minority Staff Director Brian
Walsh stayed for the second session. Mr. Phillips again delivered his
opening remarks and presented from prepared slides to convey the key
findings from the report and provide amplifying detail. Staff began asking
questions early on and Mr. Phillips, Dr. Kirkpatrick, and
fielded questions as they came up, referring to the slides as nee.e.. PSM
questions varied, but recurring themes centered on the number of total
people interviewed versus contacted over the course of the review and the
supporting documentation, locations visited as part of the review, and plans
for future UAPs. Staff also asked numerous questions about the programs
highlighted during the presentation to include KONA BLUE. At the end of the
session, PSMs thanked the panel for their time and the information.
Rheanne Wirkkala
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
(b)(6)
Office: (b)(6) I Tandberg: (b)(6)
Original Message
(b)(6)
(b)(6)