All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office — UAP Role & Official Activity
Overview
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is an office within the Department of Defense responsible for investigating Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) across all domains—air, sea, land, and space. AARO was established by Congress through the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act and began operations in July 2022. The office serves as the central DoD entity for UAP detection, identification, and attribution. AARO's work is documented in the AARO Annual Report 2023 and related congressional testimony.
Mandate & Authority
AARO operates under statutory authority established by Congress through Section 1683 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81). The office reports to the Secretary of Defense through the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.
Congressional Oversight Structure
- Senate Armed Services Committee — primary oversight committee
- House Armed Services Committee — defense authorization oversight
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — intelligence activities oversight
- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence — intelligence activities oversight
Reporting Chain
- Director, AARO reports to: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
- USD(I&S) reports to: Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of Defense reports to: Congressional defense and intelligence committees
Historical Context
Formation & Predecessors
- July 15, 2022: AARO formally established under DoD Directive
- Predecessor: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), established August 2020
- Predecessor to UAPTF: Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), operated 2007-2012
Key Legislation
- NDAA FY2022, Section 1683 — Mandated AARO establishment
- NDAA FY2023 — Expanded reporting requirements and whistleblower protections
- NDAA FY2024 — Historical records review requirements
Linked Documents
- AARO Annual Report 2023 → — First annual report to Congress
- AARO Historical Record Report Volume I (2024) → — Comprehensive historical review
- NDAA FY2022, Section 1683 → — Establishing legislation
- DoD-AARO Coordination Memorandum (2023) → — Interagency protocols
- AARO Analytical Methods (2024) → — Investigation procedures
Timeline Anchors
UAP-Related Responsibilities
- Detect and identify UAP in coordination with military services and intelligence community
- Assess and mitigate any associated threats to national security
- Reduce technical and intelligence surprise related to UAP
- Conduct historical research on U.S. government UAP investigations
- Coordinate with other federal agencies on UAP-related matters
- Report findings to Congress and relevant oversight committees
Major Reports & Publications
Related Hearings & Testimony
- Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (April 19, 2023) → — Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick testimony
- Complete Congressional Hearing Timeline →