
To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences (TTSA)
organization
Pentagon Confirms Navy UAP Videos (2020)
event
TTSA first published the three Navy UAP videos before the Pentagon officially released them.
Connection Details
Overview of the Connection Between TTSA and Pentagon UAP Video Confirmation
The relationship between To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences (TTSA) and the Pentagon’s confirmation of Navy UAP videos in 2020 centers on TTSA’s pivotal role in the initial release of declassified footage. Founded in 2017 by Tom DeLonge alongside former intelligence and defense officials such as Luis Elizondo and Chris Mellon, TTSA emerged as a key player in the modern push for government transparency on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). On December 16, 2017, TTSA facilitated the publication of three Navy UAP videos—known as FLIR1 (recorded in 2004 near the USS Nimitz), Gimbal, and GoFast (both recorded in 2015 off the East Coast)—through a partnership with the New York Times. This predated the Pentagon’s official release and confirmation of the same videos on April 27, 2020, marking a significant milestone in UAP disclosure.
Timeline and Evidence of the Relationship
The connection between TTSA and the Pentagon’s confirmation is well-documented and verified through public records and official statements. TTSA’s release of the videos in 2017, alongside detailed accounts from military personnel, brought unprecedented attention to UAP encounters. The footage, initially shared without formal government acknowledgment, was later authenticated by the Department of Defense (DoD) in 2020. The DoD’s press release on April 27, 2020, explicitly confirmed the authenticity of the three videos, stating they were captured by Navy personnel and depicted unidentified aerial phenomena. This official acknowledgment aligned with TTSA’s earlier efforts, as the organization had worked with former Pentagon officials like Elizondo, who was instrumental in declassifying the footage during his tenure with the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).
- December 16, 2017: TTSA, in collaboration with the New York Times, publishes the FLIR1, Gimbal, and GoFast videos, sparking public and governmental interest.
- April 27, 2020: The Pentagon officially releases the same videos, confirming their legitimacy and stating they were part of ongoing UAP investigations.
Significance to UAP Disclosure
The relationship between TTSA and the Pentagon’s confirmation of the Navy UAP videos is a cornerstone of recent UAP disclosure efforts. TTSA’s early release of the footage shifted public discourse, pressuring government entities to address UAP sightings transparently. The Pentagon’s 2020 confirmation lent credibility to TTSA’s actions and validated years of reports from military personnel about unexplained aerial encounters. This sequence of events contributed to the establishment of the UAP Task Force by the DoD in August 2020, tasked with investigating such phenomena. Furthermore, it underscored the role of non-governmental organizations like TTSA in bridging the gap between classified information and public awareness, influencing subsequent whistleblower testimonies and congressional hearings on UAP. The collaboration highlights a unique intersection of private initiative and official acknowledgment in the ongoing quest for clarity on unidentified phenomena.
About the Entities

To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences (TTSA)
organization
TTSA was founded in 2017 by former Blink-182 musician Tom DeLonge and former intelligence/defense officials including Luis Elizondo, Chris Mellon, and Hal Puthoff. The organization played a central role in the 2017 UAP disclosure by facilitating the release of three declassified Navy UAP videos (FLIR1, Gimbal, GoFast) to the New York Times. TTSA claimed to possess exotic metamaterials for analysis. The organization has since pivoted primarily to entertainment, with several key members departing.
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Pentagon Confirms Navy UAP Videos (2020)
event
On April 27, 2020, the Department of Defense officially released three Navy UAP videos — FLIR1 (Nimitz 2004), Gimbal (East Coast 2015), and GoFast (East Coast 2015) — confirming their authenticity. The videos had been previously leaked through TTSA and published by the New York Times in 2017-2018. This marked the first time the Pentagon formally acknowledged that unidentified aerial phenomena had been captured on official military sensor systems, lending unprecedented legitimacy to UAP reports.
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Related Connections
TTSA members coordinated the release of declassified videos and insider testimony that made the NYT story possible.
After resigning from the Pentagon, Elizondo joined TTSA and helped facilitate the release of Navy UAP videos.
Mellon served as an advisor to TTSA and helped coordinate the release of Navy UAP videos.
The FLIR1 video from the Nimitz encounter was one of three videos officially released by the Pentagon.
Key Facts
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