Ingo Swann
Remote viewer and artist who co-coined the term 'remote viewing'; key SRI psychic research subject (1972-1989)
01 Executive_Summary
Ingo Douglass Swann (September 14, 1933 - January 31, 2013) was a remote viewer, artist, and writer who played a central role in the SRI International remote viewing program. He served in the US Army (3 years in Korea), worked at the United Nations Secretariat (1958-1969), and pursued an independent art career in New York City. In June 1972, he first demonstrated 'exteriorization' skills at SRI with Hal Puthoff, where a magnetometer (quark detector) malfunctioned erratically during his tests. He worked principally at SRI's 'psychoenergetics project' from late 1973 to 1989. He coined the term 'remote viewing' (with Osis, Mitchell, and Schmeidler at ASPR) and proposed coordinate remote viewing, which was developed and tested by Puthoff and Targ with CIA funding. His April 27, 1973 'psychic probe' of Jupiter (with Harold Sherman) produced drawings describing Jupiter's rings years before spacecraft confirmation. He was a prominent Scientologist who attained Operating Thetan level before severing ties in the late 1970s.
03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Intelligence Summary: Ingo Swann
Node Identity: Ingo Swann was the primary remote viewing subject at SRI International from 1972 to 1989 and is credited with coining the term 'remote viewing.' His work with Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ formed the foundation of the US government's psychic spying program (Stargate).
Education and Early Career:
- Double bachelor's degree in biology and art, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah
- US Army, 3 years in Korea (Far East)
- 1958-1969: United Nations Secretariat (12 years)
- Independent art career (New York City)
- Erotic fiction writer
SRI Remote Viewing (1972-1989):
- June 6, 1972: First SRI visit with Puthoff
- Tested for PK at Varian Physics Building
- Magnetometer (quark detector) — Heberd
- Equipment malfunctioned erratically
- Late 1973-1989: Worked principally at SRI's 'psychoenergetics project' (Puthoff)
- Coined term 'remote viewing' (with Osis, Mitchell, Schmeidler at ASPR)
- April 27, 1973: 'Psychic probe' of Jupiter (with Harold Sherman)
- Drawings described Jupiter's rings years before spacecraft confirmation
- Coordinate remote viewing — proposed by Swann, developed/tested by Puthoff and Targ with CIA funding
- Significant PK effects in controlled experiments (graphite temperatures, plant responses)
- Distant hearing experiments (William Roll, Stuart Harary, Psychical Research Foundation Raleigh)
Scientology:
- Prominent celebrity Scientologist
- Attained Operating Thetan level
- Late 1970s: Severed ties
ARPANET Experiment:
- Jacques Vallee designed experiment with 12 subjects (including Swann)
- Mineral rock samples remote viewing
- Typed descriptions via ARPANet terminals
- Early example of online psi experiment
Key Publications:
- 'Remote Viewing: The Real Story' (autobiographical memoir, 1996)
Evidence Calibration:
- ESTABLISHED: Education, UN Secretariat career, SRI involvement (1972-1989), 'remote viewing' coinage
- DISPUTED: Remote viewing validity (debated; CIA AIR 1995 concluded not operationally useful)
- DISPUTED: Jupiter rings description (claimed pre-confirmation; debated)
- DISPUTED: PK effects on magnetometer (not independently replicated)
04 Network_Linkage
Ingo Swann is the foundational figure in the SRI remote viewing program, connecting Hal Puthoff, Russell Targ, and the CIA/DIA intelligence community. His coordinate remote viewing methodology became the basis for the Stargate Project. His ARPANET experiment with Jacques Vallee connects him to the early internet research community. His Scientology involvement (and severance) parallels Puthoff's Scientology history.
05 Related_Entities (3)
05b Related_Topics (3)
06 Research_Findings (1)
Expanded Swann profile: UN career, SRI 1972-1989, remote viewing coinage, Jupiter probe, Scientology, ARPANET experiment
07 Key_Findings
- ▸ Remote viewer; SRI/Stanford Research Institute; CIA Stargate Project participant.
08 Intelligence_Analysis
Remote viewer; SRI/Stanford Research Institute; CIA Stargate Project participant.
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Verified_Primary_Sources 1 SOURCES
Type: person
Region: main
Last updated: Research database snapshot