In a rare and revealing interview, Dr. James Lacatski, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) official, has opened up about his leadership of the largest government-funded UFO investigation in U.S. history, conducted under a veil of secrecy in Las Vegas. The program, known as the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), was initiated to analyze unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and potentially harness their technology, with the long-term goal of replicating advanced propulsion systems observed in unexplained craft.
Dr. Lacatski, who spent much of his career assessing foreign weapons technology, described how the investigation was inspired by reports of mysterious phenomena at Skinwalker Ranch, a remote location in Utah notorious for high-tech sightings and paranormal events. After personally investigating the site with owner and aerospace entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, Lacatski convinced senior DIA leadership that the anomalies presented both a threat and an opportunity. “We want to learn what can be weaponized,” Lacatski explained, underscoring the defense imperative behind the program’s creation.
With Nevada Senator Harry Reid as its primary sponsor, AAWSAP was allocated $22 million and conducted its research largely within a Bigelow Aerospace subsidiary. The program assembled a team of 50 full-time investigators, producing an extensive trove of data that included 115 in-depth reports and what is considered the world’s largest repository of UFO information. Despite the program’s conclusion over a decade ago, most of its findings remain classified. However, Lacatski has recently published a book—drawing from official files—arguing that some UFOs and related phenomena are the product of non-human intelligence.
Lacatski’s accounts include incidents involving airline pilots followed by shape-shifting craft, eyewitnesses suffering unexplained physiological effects, and the spread of paranormal activity to the homes of individuals previously exposed to UFOs. Particularly notable are reports of bizarre creatures, animal mutilations, and so-called “men in black” encounters near Skinwalker Ranch. Most provocatively, Lacatski flatly asserts that the U.S. government possesses at least one recovered craft of unknown origin. “A flying machine with no wings, no engine, no fuel, no fuel tanks,” he described, echoing the late Senator Reid’s own questions about the nature of the craft.
The AAWSAP program was abruptly halted after 27 months, a move Lacatski attributes to Senator Reid’s concerns over a potential leak from his Washington office during a contentious reelection campaign. Nevertheless, Reid ensured that some form of the investigation would continue, even after his tenure as Senate Majority Leader ended. As the U.S. continues to compete with Russia and China to unravel the secrets of UAP technology, Lacatski’s disclosures mark a significant step toward public understanding, even as the bulk of government findings remain shrouded in secrecy.
