Document · 15 July 2022
Deputy Secretary of Defense memorandum: Establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (15 July 2022)
Also known as AARO establishment memo
The two-page memorandum from the Deputy Secretary of Defense, dated 15 July 2022 and published by the Department on 20 July, that turned the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) into the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. It directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to stand up AARO, renames the AOIMSG's executive council, and orders the Navy to wind down the UAP Task Force and hand its data to the new office.
Sources: the memorandum (defense.gov)
Facts and claims
- documented Dated 15 July 2022, the memorandum directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to establish the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office to carry out the duties assigned to the AOIMSG in November 2021, as required by section 1683 of the FY2022 NDAA. Source: doc-aaro-establishment-memo-2022.pdf
- documented AARO's mission is to “synchronize efforts across the Department and with other Federal departments and agencies to detect, identify, and attribute objects of interest in, on, or near military installations, operating areas, training areas, special use airspace, and other areas of interest”, including “anomalous, unidentified space, airborne, submerged, and transmedium objects.” Source: doc-aaro-establishment-memo-2022.pdf
- documented It directs the Secretary of the Navy to disestablish the UAP Task Force no later than the date AARO is established, and makes AARO “the DoD focal point for all UAP and UAP-related activities”. Source: doc-aaro-establishment-memo-2022.pdf
Connected files
Programs
- All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (established) — It directs the USD(I&S) to establish AARO, which replaces the AOIMSG
Organizations
- Department of War (Department of Defense) (published by)
Mentioned in this file
- Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (Program)
- Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (Program)
More documents
- Fiscal Year 2025 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP (Department of War / AARO, July 2026)
- Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP (DoD / AARO, November 2024)
- Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP (ODNI and DoD, October 2023)
- AARO case slides for the Senate Armed Services subcommittee (19 November 2024)
- AARO briefing slides to the Senate Armed Services subcommittee (19 April 2023)
- AARO case resolution: "Go Fast" (2025)