Fravor testified before Congress about the 2004 Nimitz Tic Tac encounter.
Connection Details
Overview of David Fravor’s Testimony at the 2023 Congressional UAP Hearings
David Fravor, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, testified before Congress on July 26, 2023, during a historic hearing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) conducted by the House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on National Security. Fravor’s testimony centered on his firsthand experience during the 2004 USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" encounter, a widely documented incident involving an unidentified object off the coast of San Diego. This event, which Fravor witnessed alongside his wingman Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich, involved a white, oval-shaped object approximately 40 feet long that exhibited extraordinary flight capabilities, including rapid acceleration and instantaneous direction changes without visible propulsion. The encounter was recorded on the Navy's FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) system, providing visual evidence to support Fravor’s account.
During the hearing, Fravor provided a detailed recounting of the incident, emphasizing the object’s unprecedented performance and the lack of conventional explanations for its behavior. His testimony was part of a broader panel that included David Grusch, a former intelligence officer, and Ryan Graves, another Navy pilot. The event marked a significant moment in the push for government transparency regarding UAP, drawing bipartisan interest and substantial public attention.
Evidence and Timeline of the Connection
The connection between David Fravor and the 2023 Congressional UAP Hearings is verified through official records of the July 26, 2023, session, as well as Fravor’s public statements and prior accounts of the 2004 incident. Fravor’s involvement in the Nimitz encounter had been documented in earlier reports, including declassified Navy footage released in 2020 by the Pentagon. His testimony in 2023 built upon these earlier disclosures, providing a direct link between a well-known UAP incident and formal government inquiry. The timeline of interactions is straightforward: Fravor’s initial encounter occurred in November 2004, his account gained public traction following the 2017 release of related information by The New York Times, and his congressional appearance in 2023 solidified his role as a key witness in the UAP disclosure movement.
Significance to UAP Disclosure
Fravor’s testimony at the 2023 Congressional UAP Hearings holds substantial importance for the broader context of UAP disclosure. As a credible military witness with firsthand experience, his account lends weight to calls for greater transparency regarding UAP encounters by government and military personnel. His description of the Tic Tac object’s capabilities challenges conventional understandings of aerospace technology, fueling discussions about potential non-human origins or advanced, undisclosed programs. Alongside testimonies from Grusch, who spoke of government possession of non-human craft, and Graves, who reported routine UAP sightings by Navy pilots, Fravor’s contribution helped elevate the issue within legislative circles. The hearing underscored a growing bipartisan interest in investigating UAP, reflecting a shift toward formal acknowledgment and study of phenomena previously dismissed or stigmatized.
About the Entities

David Fravor
person
Commander David Fravor is a retired U.S. Navy pilot who was involved in the famous 2004 USS Nimitz "Tic Tac" encounter off the coast of San Diego. Fravor and his wingman Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich observed a white, oval-shaped object approximately 40 feet long that demonstrated extraordinary flight capabilities — rapid acceleration, instantaneous direction changes, and no visible propulsion. The encounter was captured on the Navy's FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) system. Fravor testified before Congress in 2023.
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2023 Congressional UAP Hearings
event
On July 26, 2023, the House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on National Security held a historic hearing on UAP featuring testimony from David Grusch, Ryan Graves, and David Fravor. Grusch testified under oath that the U.S. government possesses non-human craft and biologics, and that he was aware of people who had been harmed or injured in efforts to conceal this information. Graves described routine UAP encounters by Navy pilots, and Fravor detailed the 2004 Nimitz encounter. The hearing drew massive public attention and bipartisan congressional interest.
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Related Connections
Commander Fravor was the primary witness of the 2004 Tic Tac encounter, directly observing the object from his F/A-18F.
The dramatic testimony at the July 2023 hearings built momentum for the Schumer UAP Disclosure Act amendments.
Grusch testified under oath before Congress about alleged government UAP crash retrieval and reverse-engineering programs.
Graves testified about routine UAP encounters by Navy pilots during East Coast training exercises.
Burchett was a key organizer of the July 2023 House Oversight UAP hearing.
Key Facts
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