PA EST AOI Mgmt Sync Group 05-16-23 (FOIA 22-F-0249)

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1010 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON , DC 20301 - 1010
NOV 2 3 2021
MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP
COMMANDERSOFTHECOMBATANTCOMMANDS
DEFENSE AGENCY AND FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS
SUBJECT: Establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management
Synchronization Group
The presence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) in Special Use Airspace
(SUA), designated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 73, represents a potential safety of flight
risk to aircrews and raises potential national security concerns. Accordingly, I direct the
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)) to establish the
Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) to
synchronize efforts across the Department and with other Federal departments and agencies
to detect, identify and attribute objects of interests in SUA, and to assess, and as appropriate,
mitigate any associated threats to safety of flight and national security. To provide oversight
and direction to the AOIMSG, I establish the Airborne Object Identification and
Management Executive Council (AOIMEXEC). The USD(I&S) will be the lead DoD
official responsible for management of this process, will co-chair the AOIMEXEC along
with the Director of Operations, Joint Staff, and will invite Principal-level participation from
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Resourcing for this requirement will be
addressed in the Program Budget Review process.
The Director, AOIMSG (hereafter referred to as "the Director") will synchronize the
activities among the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and DoD Components, and
with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, to minimize safety of flight and
national security concerns associated with UAP or other airborne objects in SUA. The
Director, with support from the OSD and DoD Components heads, will address this problem
by standardizing UAP incident reporting across the Department; identifying and reducing
gaps in operational and intellig~nce detection capabilities; collecting and analyzing
operational, intelligence and counterintelligence data; recommending policy, regulatory or
statutory changes, as appropriate; identifying approaches to prevent or mitigate any risks
posed by airborne objects of interest; and other activities as deemed necessary by the
Director. Additionally, the Director, in coordination with the OSD and DoD Component
heads, will identify requirements and recommended changes in doctrine, organization, ·
training, materiel, leadership, personnel, workforce, facilities, and resources to be brought to
the AOIMEXEC for review, consideration and implementation, as appropriate, by the
applicable DoD Component head.
Effective immediately, the AOIMEXEC, in coordination with the OSD and DoD
component heads will manage the transition of the current UAP Task Force to the
AOIMSG. The AOIMEXEC will designate an acting Director of the AOIMSG, and will
I 1111111111111111 IOSD071597-21/CMD013372-21