Luis "Lue" Elizondo Director AATIP (Ret.)
Luis is the son of a Cuban immigrant father who was a dissident of the Fidel Castro regime. His father spent time as a political prisoner in Cuba for his involvement in the U.S.-led invasion of the Bay of Pigs. After his release from Castro's prison, his father was exiled from Cuba for the remainder of his life. Luis grew up in South Florida and, as a young man, was often exposed to his father's efforts in trying to help change the political situation in Cuba. It was in this environment that Luis learned the importance to fight for something greater than himself and that all things worth fighting for come at a cost. These values were instilled in Luis by his father from a young age and they are values he has carried throughout his life and to this day.
Luis attended the University of Miami, with double majors in Microbiology and Immunology and minors in Chemistry and Mathematics. He also gained advanced research experience in Parasitology and specific tropical diseases such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, and Trypanosomiasis.
During his research experience he was tangentially exposed to U.S. Government intelligence agencies that were also interested in biological research. At that point, Luis decided his future would be with America's intelligence organizations. Luis deeply believed that he needed to serve his country. After completing college, Luis enlisted in the United States Army.
During his Army enlistment, Luis completed tours in the Republic of South Korea and in the continental U.S. In 1998, Luis was recruited into a sensitive U.S. Intelligence program as a civilian intelligence officer and Special Agent. His assignments included being stationed throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Immediately after 9/11, Luis served in Afghanistan and assumed the role of Operations Officer, the first Counterintelligence Coordinating Authority, and Battle Captain. He was honored to serve additional tours throughout the Middle East over the next several years, while his wife raised their family in the U.S. In late 2003, Luis returned to the Washington D.C., where he oversaw counterespionage and counterterrorism investigations worldwide. Later in his career, while still in Washington, he served at the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX) and later, the Office of the Director of National intelligence (ODNI). Luis was also the former senior leader of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), the secretive Pentagon unit that studied UFOs. In December of 2017, the New York Times showcased a front-page article bringing this Program to light and public awareness. Luis resigned from the Pentagon in October 2017 to raise awareness of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and their potential threat to America's national security.
Since 2017, Luis has remained aggressively engaged in public awareness of the UAP topic by participating in innumerable television news programs, podcasts, and television series to include History Channel's Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Program, amongst others. He is actively engaged behind the scenes working with members of the various branches of government to promote and fight for transparency into the UAP topic and what it means for society.
Luis' journey from a military intelligence officer to a prominent figure in the discussion of UAP's reflects his dedication to uncovering the truth and advocating for transparency and openness. His work continues to inspire and provoke thought on the mysteries that lie beyond our current understanding. For More information Link to: