David Grusch

David Grusch is a former intelligence officer from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) who served as the NRO's representative on the UAP Task Force. He is a key whistleblower who has provided Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General with extensive classified information about deeply covert programs that he says have retrieved intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin.¹

Whistleblower Testimony

In 2023, Grusch went public with his allegations, testifying under oath before the House Oversight Committee's National Security Subcommittee. He stated that he was informed of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse-engineering program during the course of his official duties. He claimed that the U.S. government is in possession of non-human technology and "biologics" from the occupants of these craft.¹

Elizondo wrote that Grusch has provided hours of classified testimony to congressional committees and the Inspector General about the so-called "Legacy Program."¹

Sworn statement of July 26, 2023

At the hearing of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Grusch said: "I was an intelligence officer for 14 years both in the U.S. Air Force, both active-duty Air National Guard and Reserve at the rank of Major and most recently from 2021 to 2025, excuse me, 2023, at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, NGA, at the GS-15 civilian level, which is the military equivalent of a full bird colonel." He described himself as "my agency's co-lead in unidentified anomalous phenomena and trans medium object analysis" reporting to the UAP Task Force and then to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office; said he "became a whistleblower through a PPD-19 urgent concern filing in May 2022 with the intelligence community inspector general"; and said that, in his National Reconnaissance Office reservist capacity, "I was a member of the UAP Task Force from 2019 to 2021," and that "in 2019, the UAP Task Force Director asked me to identify all special access programs and controlled access programs."² He said: "I was informed in the course of my official duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access to those additional read-ons when I requested it," and "my testimony is based on information I have been given by individuals with a long-standing track record of legitimacy and service to this country."² He also said "I have suffered retaliation for my decision."²

The record of the same hearing includes, as a document submitted by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, the NewsNation article "We are not alone: The UFO whistleblower speaks," and, submitted by Representative Tim Burchett, a statement for the record by George Knapp and a Defense Intelligence Reference Document titled "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering."²

Sol Foundation

The résumé that David Grusch filed with the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability for its July 26, 2023 hearing lists, as its first entry under experience, "May 2023-Present, Chief Operating Officer (COO), The Sol Foundation," with the description "Managing day-to-day operations for a 501c3 federally recognized non-profit. The premier center for research in the natural and social sciences, engineering, and the humanities, but also extends activities to advisory and policy work for the U.S. government/public outreach," and lists "Non-Profit Leadership" among his key competencies. The same document lists "November 2021-April 2023, Senior GEOINT Capabilities Requirements Officer, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Colorado Springs, CO (GS-15, Colonel Equiv.)," and describes him as the NGA lead for unidentified anomalous phenomena and trans-medium anomaly issues who "executed new program of record responsive to direct tasking by the Congressional Intelligence Committees."³

The Debrief reported that the existence of the Sol Foundation first became apparent through that résumé and related documents in early August 2023, and that the foundation was then described as "pending recognition as a 501c3 federal non-profit." Garry Nolan said in September 2023 that Grusch's title had since become "Senior Founding Advisor," that the earlier title "seemed the right thing at the time," and that Grusch "is a founder of the Sol Foundation."⁴ The foundation's IRS ruling date as a 501(c)(3) is June 2024, and its 2024 Form 990 does not list Grusch among its officers or directors; the foundation's website, read October 3, 2026, does not list him among its executive leadership or advisory board either.⁵⁶ On November 18, 2023 Grusch joined the foundation's first symposium in Palo Alto, California by video from Washington and said, "This is why we have the Sol Foundation. We need to basically create a parallel track of research and independent discovery that aren't necessarily dependent on the U.S. government to provide us all the answers."⁷

His attorney, I. Charles McCullough III, senior partner of the Compass Rose Legal Group and the first Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, was named as the Sol Foundation's legal counsel in 2023.⁸⁴

Congressional adviser, 2025

A March 27, 2025 press release from the office of Representative Eric Burlison announced Grusch as a "Special Advisor" on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. It described his career as 14 years in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Major, with a combat tour in Afghanistan "supporting counter-illicit finance, drug, and arms-trafficking operations with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and ISAF," later work as a senior intelligence officer at NGA and the NRO, representation of the NRO on the UAP Task Force from 2019 to 2021, and a 2022 complaint to the Intelligence Community Inspector General "found 'credible and urgent' for reporting to the Congressional intelligence committees."⁹ Grusch is quoted: "I will use all my expertise to support Rep. Burlison and help the US Congress restore full oversight while enabling the Legislative Branch's ability to investigate and hold those accountable who have broken the law and lied not only to our Congress, but also to the Executive Office of the President, Director of National Intelligence, and Department of Justice."⁹

NewsNation and Skywatcher

Nexstar Media Group's November 14, 2023 announcement of Ross Coulthart as a NewsNation special correspondent stated that he "will continue to provide reporting on UFO whistleblower David Grusch."¹⁰ NewsNation wrote in January 2025 that "In June 2023, NewsNation was the first television network to present an interview with Grusch."¹¹ Grusch is listed among those interviewed or referenced in the Part I video of Sky Watcher, alongside Alex Klokus, Jake Barber, Garry Nolan, Col. Karl Nell and Fred Baker.¹² NewsNation's full special on Barber stated that Grusch and Luis Elizondo "say they've been told about it, they believe it exists, but they weren't a part of it themselves," and that Barber, "however, is different. He says he was part of that covert program."¹³

Retaliation and Impact

Since coming forward, Grusch has faced a campaign of retaliation and character assassination, which he has reported to the Inspector General.¹