Army and To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science: Unveiling the Secrecy Behind the UFO Material Testing Agreement

In October 2019, the U.S. Army and To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA) (now To The Stars Media) entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), sparking public interest due to TTSA’s high-profile focus on UFO research and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The agreement allowed the Army access to alleged exotic materials in exchange for providing TTSA with research facilities and expertise. As the agreement’s existence became known, many hoped it would offer concrete evidence about UAP-related materials. Yet, over time, it became clear that the level of secrecy surrounding this partnership would keep much of the public in the dark.

The story first appeared on The Black Vault in the article “Secrecy Deepens About U.S. Army Agreement to Analyze UFO Material“ published on October 17, 2019. In it, The Black Vault outlined the initial revelations and the air of mystery surrounding the agreement. Despite TTSA’s press release announcing the CRADA, few details were available about the material involved or the specific goals of the research. This secrecy raised concerns that the public might never fully understand the scope of the collaboration. The article highlighted that the Army, despite being relatively open about some aspects of the agreement, did not disclose the nature or origin of the material it intended to study.

Months later, The Black Vault followed up with a second article titled “Army Confirms Testing UFO Debris; Secrecy May Loom for Years About Results,” published on March 4, 2020. This marked a significant milestone in public awareness, as the Army officially confirmed it was actively conducting tests on materials linked to UAPs, which it had obtained through TTSA. The article also highlighted growing public frustration as little information was being shared about the testing process or the findings.

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The Black Vault’s investigation into the Army-TTSA collaboration took another turn when the “Department of Defense Exempts Records on To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science“ article was published on January 25, 2021. This third installment revealed that the Department of Defense (DoD) invoked specific exemptions to block the release of CRADA-related documents through FOIA requests. These exemptions, notably those regarding national defense and foreign policy, cast doubt on whether the public would ever have full access to the results or documentation related to the tests conducted under the CRADA.

Together, these three articles document the evolving but highly restricted public knowledge of the Army-TTSA agreement. The agreement initially sparked hope that the Army’s involvement would bring scientific scrutiny and transparency to the investigation of UAP materials. However, over time, it became apparent that the Army’s testing would remain largely shielded from public view, with secrecy surrounding the results and the materials involved growing deeper.

The Black Vault, through numerous FOIA requests, has continued to press for the release of material generated by the CRADA. This dedicated archive serves as a repository for all related documentation, reflecting the ongoing battle between transparency and government secrecy in matters related to UAPs and UFO research in relation to this CRADA. Each document obtained adds another piece to the puzzle, but the full picture of what the Army and TTSA discovered remains elusive.

The Black Vault negotiated a “rolling release” with the Army, and the first package was released on October 23, 2024. It is unclear how much more information will be released, and when, but the Army has assured The Black Vault it continues to process the records as quickly as possible. This page will be updated as those additional releases are received.