Origins and Context
In November 2021, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks established the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) to succeed the Navy's UAP Task Force.1 The organization emerged from growing congressional pressure to standardize and expand the Defense Department's investigation of unidentified phenomena.2
Program Structure
AOIMSG operated under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, with oversight from an Executive Council (AOIMEXEC) co-chaired by the Under Secretary and the Director of Operations for the Joint Staff.3 The group focused on detecting, identifying and attributing objects of interest in Special Use Airspace and assessing potential threats to aviation safety and national security.4
Operations and Impact
The organization helped initiate synchronization of UAP investigation efforts across the Department of Defense and broader U.S. government.5 However, AOIMSG had not achieved initial operating capability before the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act led to its reorganization into the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) with an expanded mission set.6
Legacy
While short-lived, AOIMSG represented a critical transition point in the government's approach to UAP investigation, bridging the gap between the Navy's UAP Task Force and the more comprehensive AARO program.7 The organization helped establish the foundational processes for coordinated, department-wide UAP research and analysis.8