FOIA Request DON-NAVY-2020-009296 Response and Responsive Records Regarding UAP Security Classification Guide
Summary
This document is a FOIA response and collection of released records from the Office of Naval Intelligence provided to John Greenewald Jr. of The Black Vault. The records contain heavily redacted email correspondences from early 2020 concerning the drafting, coordination, and review of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) Security Classification Guide (SCG) and congressional briefings to the House Armed Services Committee Future of Defense Task Force.
Page 1 - FOIA Response Letter (Part 1)
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE 4251 SUITLAND ROAD WASHINGTON, DC 20395
IN REPLY REFER TO 5720 Ser N00J / 0165 28 September 2021
John Greenewald Jr. 27305 W. Live Oak Rd. Suite #1203 Castaic, CA 91384 [email protected]
Subj: FOIA Request DON-NAVY-2020-009296
Dear Mr. Greenwald:
This is a final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of June 23, 2020, addressed to the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). Your request was assigned the above referenced Department of Navy FOIA number. You requested all emails sent to/from (bcc’d or cc’d) Captain Scott Chesbrough which include the keywords/phrases: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and/or Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon and/or UAP and/or UAPs and/or Unidentified Flying Object and/or Unidentified Flying Objects and/or UFO and/or UFOs.” Our review of our records and systems returned several emails related to your request.
Due to the public interest, once the review is completed, the records that are publicly releasable will posted in the FOIA Reading Room located at:
Please note, these records will not be sent to individual requesters, therefore, you are receiving this letter informing you of the action that this office will take regarding your request and to proceed in retrieving the records from the link.
If you are unsatisfied with this response, you have the right to an appeal. It must be received (i.e., post-marked if by mail, sent if by email, submitted if by FOIAonline) within 90 calendar days from the date of this letter. Please provide the appeal authority (see below) the following in an envelope marked “FOIA appeal”:
• a letter requesting an appeal that explains what you are appealing with any supporting arguments or reasons you think may be worthy of consideration; • a copy of your initial request; and • a copy of the letter of denial.
Page 2 - FOIA Response Letter (Part 2)
Subj: FOIA Request DON-NAVY-2020-009296
Also, please provide the ONI FOIA Program Coordinator a copy of your appeal letter at Office of Naval Intelligence, Staff Judge Advocate, Code: ONI-22, Attn: Camille V’Estres, FOIA Coordinator, 4251 Suitland Road, Washington, DC 20395.
There are two ways to file an appeal—through FOIAonline or by mail.
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Through FOIAonline. This will work only if you set up an account on FOIAonline before you make the request that you would like to appeal. To set up an account, go to FOIAonline (this is a website that will appear as the top hit if you search the internet for “FOIAonline”), click “Create Account” (a link located within the blue banner at the top in the upper right corner), enter your data into the field that subsequently appears, and click “Save” (at the bottom left of the screen). With your account thereby created, you will have the power to file an appeal on FOIAonline to any request you file on FOIAonline thereafter. To do so, locate your request (enter a keyword or the request tracking number in the “Search for” field on the “Search” tab), click on it, then the “Create Appeal” tab in the left-hand column. Complete the subsequent field, click “Save,” and FOIAonline will submit your appeal.
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By mail. Address your appeal to:
The Judge Advocate General (Code 14) 1322 Patterson Avenue SE, Suite 3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066
If you have any questions, please contact the FOIA coordinator at [email protected] and 301-669-3432. You may also contact the DON FOIA Public Liaison, Christopher Julka, at [email protected], (703)697-0031. In addition, the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) provides a voluntary mediation process for resolving disputes between persons making FOIA requests and the Department of the Navy (DON). For more information, go to https://www.archives.gov/ogis/about-ogis/contact-information.
C. M. FLETCHER By direction
Page 3 - Cover Page: The Black Vault
This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: The Black Vault
The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military.
Discover the Truth at: http://www.theblackvault.com
Page 4 - Email Chain: [Redacted Header] (April 20, 2020)
SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Monday, April 20, 2020 7:22 PM (b) (6)
SECRET//NOFORN
Page 5 - Email Chain: UAP Security Classification Guide (SCG)
SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
Subject: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) Security Classification Guide (SCG) (b) (1) (A)
SECRET//NOFORN
Page 6 - Email Chain: Classification: SECRET//NOFORN
SECRET//NOFORN (b) (1) (A)
All the best, (b) (6)
Classification: SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
SECRET//NOFORN
Page 7 - Email Chain: 11 MAR UAP Briefing to HASC Future of Defense Task Force
(b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 12:30 PM (b) (6) Subject: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing to HASC Future of Defense Task Force
Good afternoon, (b) (1) (A)
In summary, the following members will be in attendance: (b) (6)
Page 8 - Email Chain: Participants (Cont.)
Other participants include: (b) (6)
(b) (1) (A) V/r, (b) (6)
(b) (6)
Page 9 - Email Chain: RE: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing
(b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 5:52 PM (b) (6) Subject: RE: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing to HASC Future of Defense Task Force
(b) (6) We discussed with Leg Affairs earlier today. I plan to attend — and I’ll engage with USD/I on their level of participation.
Thanks, (b) (6)
Page 10 - Email Chain: FW: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing
(b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 5:34 PM (b) (6) Subject: FW: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing to HASC Future of Defense Task Force (b) (6) (b) (1) (A) (b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 5:25 PM (b) (6) Subject: FW: FOR REVIEW: 11 MAR UAP Briefing to HASC Future of Defense Task Force
FYSA. (b) (6)
Page 11 - Email Chain: Quads for funding (May 18, 2020)
(b) (6) From: (b) (6) Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 11:09 AM To: (b) (6) Cc: Subject: Quads for funding Attachments: (b) (1) (A)
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
(b) (6) Thanks for your time! Here are the quads we discussed. (b) (6)
====================================================== Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN
Page 12 - Email Chain: UAP Classification Guide (April 13, 2020)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 5:27 PM To: (b) (6) Cc: Subject: UAP Classification Guide Attachments: (b) (1) (A)
Classification: SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
Hello All—
For now, providing for your SA not for wider distribution. We are working with SSO Navy on the formal promulgation of this guide across the Fleet.
Thanks, (b) (6)
====================================================== Classification: SECRET//NOFORN
Page 13 - Email Chain: FW: UAP SCG (April 2, 2020)
(b) (1) (A)
V/r (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 11:58 AM [Redacted lines]
Subject: FW: UAP SCG
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
======================================================
Page 14 - Email Chain: RE: UAP SCG (April 2, 2020)
It’s ready for your review. I appreciate it!
V/r, (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 11:04 AM To: (b) (6) Subject: RE: UAP SCG
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
I am comfortable with the new remarks.
It is ready for (b) (6) chop.
V/R (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 8:11 AM To: (b) (6) Subject: RE: UAP SCG
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
Page 15 - Email Chain: RE: UAP SCG (April 1–2, 2020)
(b) (6)
Thanks! My numbers are below if you need me… (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 8:01 AM To: (b) (6) Subject: RE: UAP SCG
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
I am in and just began reviewing. (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 1:37 PM (b) (6) Subject: UAP SCG
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN
Page 16 - Email Chain: Review Coordination (April 1, 2020)
(b) (6)
Here’s the draft for (b) (6) review. Thanks for your help in coordinating this effort! I’ll be available for any questions throughout the review.
V/r (b) (6)
(b) (6)
====================================================== Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN
Page 17 - Email Chain: Classification Guide on UAP Suspense (April 1, 2020)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 12:24 PM To: (b) (6) Cc: Subject: RE: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP Attachments: (b) (1) (A)
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
(b) (6) (b) (5)
V/R (b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 11:24 AM (b) (6) Subject: RE: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Page 18 - Email Chain: SAPCO Changes / Classification Guide on UAP (March 31, 2020)
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
(b) (6) See my comments in attached. v/r (b) (6)
(b) (6) Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 10:13 AM (b) (6) Subject: RE: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN (b) (6)
(b) (6) Sorry for update, I didn’t catch that the SAPCO changed a couple of the paragraph markings to include SAR, please delete the previous version. Those paragraphs were certainly not SAR. (b) (6)
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 8:51 AM (b) (6) Subject: FW: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classified By: (b) (6)
Page 19 - Email Chain: Classification Guide Drafting and Coordination (March 27, 2020)
(b) (6)
(b) (6) I wrote this based on (b) (6) guidance below that he would be signing it. I need to get this with the appropriate NIA security POC for review before it goes to (b) (6) wanted to give you the opportunity to review it. I do have it out with some of the folks across the community for comments as well.
(b) (6) Who should be the security POC for review maybe (b) (6) (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:41 PM To: (b) (6) Subject: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: SECRET (b) (6)
(b) (6)
Page 20 - Email Chain: Classification Markers (March 27, 2020)
(b) (1) (A)
Thanks, (b) (6)
====================================================== Classification: SECRET Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN Classification: TOP SECRET//NOFORN
Page 21 - Email Chain: Routing via TMS (March 27, 2020)
(b) (6) From: (b) (6) Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:52 PM To: (b) (6) Cc: Subject: FW: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: SECRET (b) (6)
Hello (b) (6)
Please see below request from the DDNI and send via TMS to (b) (6) for completion (he knows its coming). (b) (6)
Thanks, (b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:47 PM To: (b) (6) Subject: RE: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: SECRET Classified By: (b) (6)
Page 22 - Email Chain: Classification Guide on UAP (March 27, 2020)
(b) (6)
Sorry; I lost a line in the email below… (b) (1) (A)
Thanks, (b) (6)
(b) (6)
From: (b) (6) Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:41 PM To: (b) (6) Subject: FOR ACTION with 3 April Suspense: Classification Guide on UAP
Classification: SECRET (b) (6)
(b) (6) (b) (1) (A)
Page 23 - Email Chain: Concluding Classifications
(b) (6)
Thanks, (b) (6)
(b) (6)
====================================================== Classification: SECRET Classification: SECRET Classification: SECRET