Mark McInerney, a former meteorologist and liaison to the Pentagon, has been appointed as the inaugural boss of NASA’s newly-created UFO research division.
In his role, McInerney will lead the agency’s investigations into unidentified flying objects, known as UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena).
Initially, NASA officials withheld McInerney’s identity due to concerns about potential harassment.
NASA’s associate administrator Nicola Fox initially teased McInerney’s involvement with the agency without revealing his identity.
“They have been working there a while now, during the study, to help be a point of contact,” she said.
NASA Introduces New U.F.O. Research Director: Mark McInerneyhttps://t.co/3riA95aAuE pic.twitter.com/Ibf5VB62YS
— Dr.Disclosure89 (@Docneuroeo) September 15, 2023
At the time, when directly questioned about revealing the official’s name, Fox responded, “We will not give his name out.”
However, they later reversed their decision and publicly announced his appointment. The decision to disclose McInerney’s identity came hours later when NASA issued a press release, revealing his prior role as the agency’s liaison to the Pentagon.
There has been no clarification provided as to why McInerney’s identity was initially kept secret.
However, it was revealed that members of the independent study group had received threats, hate mail, and social media ridicule.
Some were even advised to refrain from UFO research out of concern for their scientific credibility.
Despite ruling out aliens as the cause of over 800 UFO sightings spanning nearly three decades, NASA’s newly-formed research division will continue studying UAPs.
These sightings refer to objects that cannot be identified as known aircraft or natural phenomena from a scientific perspective.
While the extraterrestrial theory was dismissed, NASA’s experts acknowledged that mysterious flying objects pose a tangible threat to American airspace.
They did not discount the possibility of unknown alien technology operating in Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA’s 33-page report called for the agency to utilize its technological capabilities to further investigate UFOs, as many cases remain unresolved, and the true nature of these sightings remains unknown.
NASA chief Bill Nelson announced the appointment of a new director for UFO research to implement the recommendations from the independent study team.
Nelson expressed gratitude for the team’s insights and highlighted NASA’s commitment to transparently study and analyze UAPs using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
In his new role, McInerney will centralize communications, resources, and data analytical capabilities to establish a comprehensive database for evaluating future UAPs.
He will also leverage NASA’s expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and space-based observation tools to support the broader government initiative on UAPs.
With his extensive experience in various positions, including NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the National Hurricane Center, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, McInerney is well-equipped to lead NASA’s efforts in UFO research.
