CIA Assessment of NICAP Structure and Operations
This three-page document from the CIA's electronic reading room profiles the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), characterizing it as a loose but efficient structure. It names Stuart Nixon (background in investigative journalism) as Executive Director, along with John Acuff and Charles Miller, who form the organization's Editorial Review Board responsible for policy, the newsletter, press, media relations, and special reports. The assessment describes NICAP's reliance on a loosely structured advisory group of experts across disciplines including physics, astronomy, anthropology, medicine, and psychology, noting that the advisory group includes some ex-CIA and Defense Intelligence personnel who advise on investigative techniques and government relations. It details NICAP's regional network of roughly 35 field investigators, their qualifications (minimum age 25, scientific training, ability to cover a 50-mile-diameter area), and an educational and occupational breakdown of the investigators. The document reports NICAP operated on a $40,000 annual budget with 3,500 dues-paying members, both expected to increase due to a recent UFO flap. It also describes a computer effort codenamed 'Project Access' intended to develop pattern analysis from more than 15,000 raw reports in NICAP's files, organized around event, principals (witnesses), and investigation data, and includes a sketch of the organizational structure.
Description
An intelligence-style assessment describing the organization, leadership, advisory group, investigator network, budget, and computer analysis project of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), found in the CIA Reading Room.
Claims
Stuart Nixon was NICAP's Executive Director at the time of writing.
85%Stuart Nixon was NICAP's Executive Director, working with John Acuff and Charles Miller on an Editorial Review Board.
85%NICAP had roughly 35 investigators distributed by region across the country, with more being established.
80%NICAP operated on roughly a $40,000 annual budget with about 3,500 dues-paying members.
80%NICAP maintained about 35 regional investigators nationwide with defined qualification requirements.
80%NICAP held more than 15,000 raw UFO reports in its files, to be analyzed under 'Project ACCESS.'
80%NICAP operated on a $40,000 annual budget with 3,500 dues-paying members.
75%NICAP's advisory group includes some ex-CIA and Defense Intelligence personnel who advise on investigative techniques and NICAP-government relations.
70%NICAP maintained more than 15,000 raw UFO reports in its files.
70%Membership and budget were expected to increase due to a recent UFO flap.
70%NICAP's advisory group included some ex-CIA and Defense Intelligence personnel who advised on investigative techniques and government relations.
60%
Events
Project Access computer analysis effort
NICAP effort to develop pattern analysis from more than 15,000 raw UFO reports, organized around event, principals, and investigation data.
Recent UFO flap
A surge in UFO activity referenced as expected to increase NICAP's membership and budget.
Project ACCESS computer analysis initiative
NICAP effort to develop pattern analysis from over 15,000 raw UFO reports, structuring data by event, witnesses, and investigation.
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
ie reer a pee ee ee National investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) Appears to be a fairly oose atructurdbut rather efficient. Stuart Nixon ( backsround in investigative . journalism) is currently Executive Director, He along with a John Acuff and Charles Miller=(—vackgrounds unknown) make up the organizations Editorial Review Board which is responsible - for policy, including the newsletter, puxkx oress and other media relations ag well as special” xsaxxx - “reports and x4 programs. _ This board xekek relies heavily on } both a loosely _. sku structured advisory group_and-a-fairly well developed and well placed sx network of: investigators. - The advisory croup 1s made uv of experts in akk_many_ : oe discivlines. including ohysices, 2 a8 tronormy; anthropology — =~... = medicine and psycholosy.- This group -also-includes ~ CO some ex-Cia and Defense Intelligence } yoes who advise TON ee investigative techniques and - -NICAP-f Government relations, -——__——_-- There does not-seem to be any. losica or systematic progran by which these advisors are.chosen, but rather un the procedure seems-to—ce to simoly offer one's services to the ors ganization throush either Nixon or the Review Board. Often the -advisorS¥-sinly joined NICAP( a rather easy __ . task since all it takés is a specified“membershin duxs a fee) - found something out: acout” “the organization, ana then made their qualificatiory FS kmown to the Review Foard, Tne sk system of investigators is a good one. Nxon nas diviced whe country into resions -end_has establishea/ "investis°ators"” in each_of the regions. Any Réiser of. NICAP is encourazed to sukxkiEx request a- Torn by which one can eoply Tor this position, ~The recutrenents for the position szemxkaxxnax include a minimun ace of 25, fornal training or exnerience in some branch of science, or other spec talized oacksround applic” abdle| to systematic at least 50 niles in. Gianeter uk or one hour of driving tine, As of a few months ago some 35 investigators were located throushout the country, with NicaPin the process of establishing even fore, A breakdown of their ba ack=rounds lcoked like the followins: 7 PhDs, 2MAs or HS, 23 PAspr ES, AA and 24ith “Collese training but no degrees. Occupationally they included 4 physical scientists, 13 ensineers, 3 coilese profs, 13 specielists, inclucing doctor, technician, computer . programner and businessman. ive of the 35 are pilots. Also B2Axyx utiliced as “ legmen" for the investigators are investis: tor uxaks assistants. “11 investigators carry 4nx credentials xk identifying then as investigators for NICAP,. BVA VAN RE RR wee we em Te wee BA mrt tte rrr yer ete —~4 Appears to be a fairly loose structurdiut rather efficient. Stuart Nixon ( background in investigative journalism) 1s currently Executive Director, He along with Jom Acuff and Charles Miller ( backgrounds unknown) make up the organizations Editorlal Review Board which is resoonsible for policy including the newsletter, pukx vress and other media relations/as well as speclal xs4xxx reports and x3 programs. Tnis board xzkek relies heavily on both a loosely sku structured advisory group-and a fairly well developed and well placed sx network of investigators, The advisory croup is made up of experts in akk many disciplines including ohysics, astronomy, anthropology, medicine and psychology, This group also includes. some ex-CIA and Defense Intelligence jZyves wno advise on investigative technicues-and—NICAP-f/ Government relations. There does not seem to be any lozical-or. systematic program by which these advisors are chosen, but rather um the procedure seems to be to simply offer one's services ~ to the organization: throush either-Nixon-or the Review Board. Often the advisor$¥sinoly joined NICAP(~a rather easy) task since all it takes isa specified“membershin dusa fee): found something-out-abdout_tnre- orgenization and then. made their qualification%’eimown to the Review Board. The sk system of investigators is a good one. Nxon has’ divided tne country into . rezions and has estadl isis, "“investix-ators" in each_of the regions. Any” memdéer ‘of _ NICAP is encourezed_to sukrkix=reouest a form by which: one can aonly Tor this position. The requirements for the position svemxkaxxbex include a minimum ace of.25, formal treining-or-experience-in-some-branch of science, or other specialized dackxsround applic’ able to systematic... _ collection of information, the ability to cover an arealof ___- at least 50 miles in diameter sf or one hour of driving tine. . As of a few months aso- SOns =. 35 investigators were located _ throusheut the country, with NmcaPin-the process of. ‘establishing. even rore. <A breakdown of their backerounds lcoked like the- followins: 7 PhDs, 2MAs orl MS, 23 BAepr ES, LAA and 2vith.- college training but no degrees.—-Occupationally they. - included 4 physical scientists, _ 13 encineers, 3 coilese: profs, -~ 13 specialists, inclucing doctor, technician, computer. programser and businessman, ive.of.the.35 are pilots, Also —Bynkyx-utiliced as " legmen" for the investigators are. investic-tor usaka assistants.-—--All_-investigators carry inx credentials xx_identifying them as investigators for NICAP. — ‘a me ee at te He < a a a ~ Te NICAP currently overates on a $40,000 yr. budget and has 3,500 dues paying members. ~ "Bo th the nembershiv and the budget may be expected to increase subskunkxix . cleetececeete ee veer substatially due to the recent. UFO flap. 2 A computer project codenamed. "Project Acess" is currently in the mill. “n effort is being made to develop sorte sort of pattern analysis out of the.15, 000 or more raw revorts reportedly in NICAP!s files, - ‘This. apparently Tm will take the following- form: ela Taek 1... event-- “4aneluding “time, place, terrain, weather speed, color, ax shape and other é information 2. vrincipals- ~iricluding data on all witnesses . and-others involved in repvats suchas blo data, medica] info_and_ psychological aspects 3. _Anvestigation-. -Ancluding _ _evaluation. OF ee reports and special eee notes from the recional - : investigator on witness oe discrepancy in testiony etc... - The following is_apparently—the-xe- organizational structure and_ Wo relationships. within NICA?P \ Se PRESS r GUALIC \Crnee-o& Be DIR” re - HDVISORY GRovt OYfeR UFO. vrs yo Reseaachet
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