What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the AARO Historical Records and Reports, released by The Black Vault in 2024. The document is a series of email exchanges between various individuals, including Matthew C. Cummings, Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Defense Security Service (DSS), and John F. Stratton, a Senior Executive Service (SES) officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). The emails date from September 29 to October 7, 2020, and discuss the scheduling of a briefing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Provenance: The document was released by The Black Vault, a website that provides access to declassified government records, on August 22, 2024. The release was made possible through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The document was originally classified under various exemptions, including (b)(6) and (b)(8), which relate to national security and information that could cause harm to individuals or organizations. The Document: From: Cummings, Matthew C (Matt) SES OSD OUSD INTEL (USA) {i Qmail.mil> Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2020 5:55 PM To: @) DODIG (USA) , i USN DGNO N2N6 (USA) , Stratton, John F (Jay) SES USN DCNO N2N6 (USA) , Bray, Scott W SES OPNAV N2N6, N2N6! Ce: Gough, Susan L (Sue) CIV OSD PA (USA) QE @nail.mil> Subject: RE: Query aa Happy to support. Navy generally briefs the program activities and status and | am happy to fill in any gaps from the OSD level. I'll defer to Navy to set up the best time with you. Thanks! Mait Matthew C. Cummings, DISL (b) (6) From: Stratton, John F (Jay) SES USN DCNO N2N6 (USA) {QQ @navy.mil> Sent: Friday, October 2, 2020 7:04 AM To: Cummings, Matthew C (Matt) SES OSD OUSD INTEL (USA) Ox OIG DoD ; E(b) (6) @navy.mil>; Bray, Scott W SES OPNAV N2N6, N2N6I Cc: Gough, Susan L (Sue) CIV OSD PA (USA) EEE Ori. mi> Subject: RE: Query (b) (6) I'll be in the pentagon again next Friday, | could brief you anytime between 0700-1100. We'd need about an hour. If that doesn't work we could set up a Tandberg during the week. From: OIG DoD {QQ @dodig.mil> Sent: Friday, October 2, 2020 11:59 AM To: Stratton, John F (Jay) SES USN DCNO N2N6 (USA) C (Matt) SES OSD OUSD INTEL (USA) ; Bray, Scott W SES OPNAV N2N6, N2N6I 5. Cc: Gough, Susan L (Sue) CIV OSD PA (USA) QO @nai!.mil> Subject: RE: Query Jay, What is your availability for the following week (13 Oct-16)? Also, what is the classification level of the briefing? | want to make sure that we have the necessary caveats or access in order to receive the full picture during our briefing. (b) (6) (b) (6) Context: The emails suggest that the briefing is related to the UAP Task Force effort, which is led by Scott Bray, the Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence. The emails also mention that the briefing will be provided by Navy and that the classification level of the briefing is not specified. Outro…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Curiosities Cat | AARO Historical Records And Reports

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the AARO Historical Records and Reports, released by The Black Vault in 2024. The document is a series of email exchanges between various individuals, including Matthew C. Cummings, Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Defense Security Service (DSS), and John F.

Date: JUL 17 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play3:01

0:003:01

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Curiosities Cat | AARO Historical Records And Reports about?: Cold Open: This is a declassified document from the AARO Historical Records and Reports, released by The Black Vault in 2024. The document is a series of email exchanges between various individuals, including Matthew C. Cummings, Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Defense Security Service (DSS), and John F.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

disclosure

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Curiosities Cat | AARO Historical Records And Reports

Questions about this case

Related cases

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report Concerning The Cultural

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On The Chinese Leadership After

CIA Annual Report Of The Director Of Central Intelligence To The Congress

FBI Report To Congress On Chinese Espionage Activities Against The United States

DOJ Disclosures First Phase Of Declassified Epstein Files

Questions about this case

Related cases

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report Concerning The Cultural

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On The Chinese Leadership After

CIA Annual Report Of The Director Of Central Intelligence To The Congress

FBI Report To Congress On Chinese Espionage Activities Against The United States

DOJ Disclosures First Phase Of Declassified Epstein Files

Get the next declassified case in your inbox