Our Team

Founder of UAP Check, Michael Vaillant is a French Data Scientist and consultant specialized in the study of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). He has worked with GEIPAN, part of the French National Space Center (CNES), where he created a methodology and software to study UAP, developed the official French UAP database, and helped launch the GEIPAN website. Along with the UAP Check Team, he aims to foster understanding of UAP, reduce stigma, and raise public awareness.

Marie-France Barrault, 30, has been passionate about aviation and space since childhood. She worked for five years as an aeronautical engineer and is now a student pilot in Paris, aiming to become a private pilot. Freelance scientist journalist - Absolut Sensing - Business Marketing Manager. Private pilot trainee (jet) and a freelance science journalist. She’s also spent a few months at the CNES, when heavy space launcher Ariane 6 was being designe. Aerospace, Engineering, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Marketing, Communication, Business, Journalism, Environmental Science, Event Management.

Sarah Witeneim crossed the seas and oceans as a sailor for 12 years and managed an event agency in Cannes and Monaco. Exposed to the UAP phenomenon at an early age, having witnessed a UAP in 2003, she has continued to investigate in France and other countries including Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Stéphanie also investigates Crop Circles, she inspires her husband Jonnie Hurn, director of the feature film "In Circles."

Born in 1959, graduated in Economic Sciences. Lives and works as a consultant in Torino (Italy). Actively involved with local, national and International UFO organizations since the late ‘70s. Longtime field investigator, author of a “UFO investigation methodology manual” (1984, 1993). On the editorial board of several UFO periodicals, both in Italy and abroad (Ufo Phenomena International Annual Review, Magonia, European Journal of UFO Studies). Author or coauthor of monographs and books about UAP, and presented papers in UFO congresses or conferences since 1979. Tax and Financial Consultant. APASLA (Associazione piemontese assistenza sclerosi laterale amiotrofica) - president.

Emmanuel Leriche is the President of the Comellink Communications Agency. Creative and enthusiastic, he has spent his entire career in the field of communications and marketing strategy, particularly in the digital sector. Passionate about astronomy, planetology, history, and geopolitics, he took a particular interest in UAPs in 2020 following a remarkable sighting. He is a French citizen.

Stavros Hatzopoulos has been interested in UFOs since 1975 and began his UFO journey in Athens, Greece. He started several UFO organizations and participated in MUFON chapters. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Italian CISU. His background is in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, and during his US academic career, he moved to Medicine and Neurosciences. He is currently a professor in the Neurosciences Department at the University of Ferrara, Italy. Stavros is an open-minded UFO skeptic with a main interest in CE3 cases and the connection between consciousness and UFOs. Since 2022, he has been interested in the observations of nonhuman entities under the effects of DMT. His latest project involves creating a Greek database from the early 1900s with the assistance of Greek ufologists.

Julien Odeur is an investigator and council member of the COBEPS (French-speaking Belgian UFO research group). He has a Master's in Contemporary Sculpture and Numerical Art. Julien has been interested in the UFO phenomenon since his childhood, inspired by the Belgian wave. He joined COBEPS some years ago, driven by his extensive knowledge of cases and stories. Julien hopes for the establishment of a real European research organization funded on the subject and the discovery of new insights together.

Charles-Maxence Layet, a European parliamentary assistant from 2009 to 2024, is a freelance science writer specializing in new energy technologies and the electromagnetic cosmos. He is the editor-in-chief and publisher of "Orbs Special Contact," a book devoted to UFOs and the extraterrestrial hypothesis. His journey focuses primarily on the humane dimensions of the UAP phenomenon.

Alexis Druaux is a journalist intrigued by unexplained phenomena for a decade. He believes that UAPs hide an exciting future, and is here to demystify these mysteries. His goal is to find out what we don't yet know, and he is convinced that investigation is the key. “Join me on this adventure, and together, let’s explore the unknown with a conviction that great discoveries await us.”

Andre Jol, 64, from the Netherlands, is a chemical and environmental engineer by profession. He has worked as an expert on air pollution and climate change at a Dutch consulting company and the European Environment Agency, and recently retired. Andre has been interested in UFOs for a long time and since last year has been a board member of the UAP Coalition Netherlands. The NGO promotes transparency, collaboration, understanding, and research around UAP, striving for recognition, awareness, and cooperation at national and international levels. Their focus is on professionals who have experienced UAP, and Andre is eager to collaborate and exchange experiences to bring the UAP topic forward from a scientific perspective.

Born in 1960 in Switzerland, Bruno Mancusi holds a degree in chemistry from the University of Lausanne. He has worked for over 30 years in the food industry, in quality control. Active in ufology since 1984, he is a member of CISU, SCEAU, MUFON, and EuroUFO. He also serves on the board of the Maison d'Ailleurs (Swiss science fiction museum) foundation. Bruno is interested in the paranormal, urban legends, history, conspiracies, and espionage.

Christine Mazella, 54, lives in Lille, France. Formerly in charge of cultural projects, mainly heritage restoration and museums, she has a master's degree in history. Christine has organized exhibitions, proofread publications, and written numerous documents for elected representatives. She has also worked with sponsorship-based associations for heritage. Christine has been interested in ufology since childhood due to her father's admiration for Jacques Vallée. She is now a self-taught amateur artist.

Dr. Danny Ammon, born in 1979, is a research assistant in medical informatics. He has been a member of the Society for Research into the UFO Phenomenon (GEP eV) since 2003 and of the Society for Anomalistics (GfA eV) since 2004. Danny has served as the second chairman of the GEP since 2008 and was the responsible editor of the club's journal for UFO research from 2006 to 2022. He advocates for a critical, theoretically and methodologically sound, and interdisciplinary study of the UFO phenomenon. Danny is a medical data science and healthcare interoperability specialist, working as head of the Data Integration Center at Jena University Hospital. He is also active in the EuroUFO.net community and an affiliate member of the Society for UAP Studies.

Frantz Ozinky is an IT security engineer at Carrefour. He has been interested in ufology since a young age and explores this phenomenon through myths and legends. Understanding the UFO phenomenon involves understanding our past and origin. In his spare time, Frantz does illustrations, including archaeological reconstructions, portraits of exogenous beings, and flying objects. He is a close friend of Gaëlle Dray and Sarah Witeneim and has helped with the Echo-Event project.

Gaëlle Dray, best friend of Sarah Witeneim, spent 15 years sailing the globe on yachts and worked as an Food and Beverage manager at Roissy International Airport. She was exposed to the UAP phenomenon in 2003 with Sarah.

Isabelle Mondou, 44, recently obtained a degree in anthropology and plans to pursue a master's degree focusing on life in the universe. She has been interested in ufology since childhood and had a significant sighting in 1998.

Born in 1949 in Valencia. Interested in UFO phenomena since adolescence. Actively investigated the Manises case and collaborated with various UFO organizations. Currently reinvestigating unresolved and new cases.

Jann Halexander, born on September 13, 1982, in Libreville, Gabon, is a well-known figure in the French-speaking world. He celebrated twenty years in the music business on March 30, 2023, in a Paris venue. A former geography student with a major in regional planning, he authored a dissertation on the effects of apartheid on the planning of a South African town from 1948 to 1991. He authored "The UFO Issue in Central Africa" (2023) and founded the UAP AFRICA network in November 2023. With author Stéphane Royer, he hosts podcasts on the UAP AFRIQUE YouTube channel.

Jaroslav V. Mareš is a Czech journalist actively interested in anomalous phenomena and working with Projekt Zare

Marco Bianchini, born in Siena, Italy, on December 11, 1973, graduated in law from Siena University in 1997 and has been an attorney in Siena since 1999. He also graduated in religious sciences from Florence Theological Faculty in 2020 and is specializing in Biblical archaeology at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem. Interested in UFOs since 1990, he was a member of Centro Ufologico Nazionale (CUN) between 1991 and 1996 and has been a member of Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU) since 1992. He has served as regional director for Tuscany since 2002 and a national board member since 2005, and became president of CISU in November 2023. Marco has specialized for 28 years in the study of unidentified submerged objects (USOs), amassing the world's largest archive of USO reports and books. He has investigated dozens of local sightings and published several books, including a history of Tuscan ufologists and UFO groups. Since 1995, he has coordinated USOCAT, the national catalogue of Italian USO reports.

Marie Thuillier (Marie Angélique Thuillier) is a self-taught artist born in Paris. After a first cycle of studies at the Ecole du Louvre, she turned to nursing and psychology studies, fields in which she worked for 20 years. In parallel, she was a stage and studio singer and posed as a model for Higher Schools of Art and co-hosted the show "place des artistes" on Radio ODOPAL. In 2015, she devoted herself fully to illustration and painting. Her style is akin to singular art, it is not uncommon to see characters depicted in richly colored scenes, sometimes accompanied by unusual celestial objects (a sort of irrepressible resurgence of her UFO sighting in 1990, which profoundly marked her and "accompanied" her). Marie Thuillier regularly exhibits in France, Belgium, and Italy. She is a member of the ARTCAF and REINE DE PARIS artistic collectives. https://www.artsper.com/fr/artistes-contemporains/france/83304/marie-thuillier

Martin Chlebovský, born in 1966 in Czechoslovakia, lives in Ostrava, Czech Republic. He has been interested in space research, mysteries, and UFOs since age 13. He has a master's degree in electrical engineering and works as a senior project manager in IT. Martin is part of the Project Záře team, which collected UFO sightings data from 1992 to 2022 and will resume in 2024. He is married and has two adult sons.

Matteo Marrocu is a member of the Italian ufological association CISU. He collects, catalogs, and investigates sightings in Sardinia, his home region. In UAPCheck, Matteo is part of the B1 News section, handling Italian versions of articles with other CISU colleagues.

Paul Plumat is a director, producer, and writer with his company EcuProd. He has been following the UAP topic closely since 2020. In 2021, his passion for ufology led to the creation of the short film "STIGMA." Paul co-founded "The UAP Show" on YouTube with Thibaut Canuti, Bernard Thouanel, and Joelle Blosse. He is also involved in "Les Repas UFOlogiques de Paris" with Emmanuel Leriche.

Piero Zanaboni, born in Milan, is a retired nuclear engineer who worked in nuclear power plant design for 35 years. His interests include cosmology, nuclear physics, photography, nature, and UFOs.

Roberto Labanti, born in 1977 in Bologna, Italy, has been a member of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU) since 1999. He served on the CISU board from 2005 to 2009 and has been the coordinator of the Luminous Phenomena in Atmosphere Commission of CISU. In 2000, he co-founded the Italian Committee for Hessdalen Project (CIPH). Roberto is also a regular contributor to the journal Query and maintains a blog called "Note Zetetiche".

Multilingual (french, english, bahasa indonesia, italian, spanish, learning cantonese) International Sales Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the museums and institutions industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Entrepreneurship, International Business Development, Event Management, and... Songwriting. Always looking for new challenges/opportunities!

Sveva R. Stallone, born in Milan, Italy, is a professional journalist specializing in ICT. She has worked for various IT publications, directed labor union publications, and edited the "Space & Science Fiction" book series. Active in ufology since 1980, she is a member of CISU and has investigated various close encounters. Sveva is also passionate about rocketry, aeromodelling, aeronautics, astronomy, astronautics, guitar, bass, and science fiction. She has been a radio amateur since 2014.

Walter Beltrami is a musician, composer, and educator with a lifelong interest in sciences, humanities, and art. He graduated in Foreign Languages and Literatures with a major in Linguistic and Social Communication, and holds dual degrees in Music Performance and Education, and a Master's in Composing for Audiovisuals. With over 20 years of experience, he teaches Jazz Guitar, Harmony, and Composition in conservatories and universities. He is the founder of UAP Education, dedicated to advancing the study and understanding of UAP phenomena.

Xavier Barichard is an aeronautical engineer by education who shifted his focus to people management. He runs his own consultancy and coaching company. Curious and passionate about technology, photography, good food, wine, and sci-fi, he believes we are not alone in the universe. Xavier is writing a novel on non-human entities.

Alexandre Rey, born in 1988 in Marseille, has an artistic background and has worked in the video game industry for 10 years as an artistic director. His interests include image, psychology, spirituality, and football.

Billy Cox is a novelist and journalist.

Bram Roza is a Dutch ambassador for the UFO topic since primary school. He founded the Dutch UFO reporting center (UFO Meldpunt Nederland) in 2005 and created the first professional UFO documentary in the Netherlands, "The UFOs of Soesterberg." He hosts UFO Podcast Nederland on YouTube and is a board member of UAP Coalitie Nederland.

Cheuk Fei runs the MJ-13 YouTube channel focusing on UAP and related phenomena.

Chris Rutkowski is a Canadian science writer and researcher known for his work in ufology. He is affiliated with the Canadian UFO Survey and the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). Rutkowski has dedicated his career to studying UFOs and has authored numerous publications on the subject. He is also associated with the University of Manitoba, where he contributes to the documentation and analysis of UFO sightings.

Christiaan van Heijst is a commercial pilot with twenty years of flying experience and is currently the captain of a Boeing 747. His passion for aviation began at an early age, and he obtained his private pilot's license (PPL) before turning 18. Besides his flying career, Christiaan is also an avid photographer, often capturing stunning images during his flights. He is deeply committed to flight safety, which is a significant reason for his involvement as an ambassador for the UAP Coalition Netherlands. His interest in UAPs was sparked by several unexplained sightings he experienced over Europe, and since speaking out about these encounters, he has become a point of contact for other pilots with similar experiences.

Christopher Altman is an American Physicist, Quantum Technologist, international diplomat and NASA-trained Commercial Astronaut who began his scientific career with a Guinness world Record-holding Artificial Intelligence project and a NASA/USAF-supported time travel division at multidisciplinary, “Deep Future” research institute Starlab. His pioneering next-generation science and technology initiatives include research at world-leading research institutes including NASA Ames Research Center, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, as senior scientist at an astronaut training base on a volcano in Hawai‘i, as Chairman for the UNISCA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security—selected as annual recipient of the RSA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Policy—and as part of the US Government’s fast-track QuIST program in the global race for quantum supremacy.As Director of the Board and Chief Science Officer for the world’s first commercial astronaut corps and Director with the Tau Zero Interstellar Foundation, successor to the NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program, Altman’s research spans quantum technology and next-generation spaceflight. His inaugural keynote address as a candidate with the commercial astronaut corps was broadcast live to 108 sister cities around the world. NASA allocated funding to the corps for its first manned spaceflights the following spring.

Chris Sharp is a UK-based journalist covering UAP and related phenomena.

David Galley works for TF1, French national TV news, and Beewan Company.

Dominique Filhol is a film director and screenwriter known for "The Nine Billion Names of God" (2018), "Valensole," and "Flying Objects: A State Secret" (2020). He has worked for ARTE and CANAL+ Group.

Filipe Nascimento is a neuroscientist at University College London (UCL) and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Wellcome Trust Fellowship. He is interested in the potential biological effects of UAPs and the methodological and academic challenges they pose. Filipe serves on the advisory board of the Society for UAP Studies and is a member of the editorial board for its journal, Limina.

Franc Milburn joined UAP Check in June 2023. He is a UK citizen. Franc Milburn provides updates and strategic analysis on the UAP Phenomenon and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the US Department of Defense. A former UK Defence Intelligence officer and Army Paratrooper, Franc has over 23 years of experience producing threat and risk assessments for clients operating in hostile environments. He has worked with various Fortune 500, aerospace, and government clients and has written peer-reviewed papers for globally ranked think tanks. Franc is an alumnus of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the London School of Economics. He is affiliated with several research institutions and is a member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies.

Frederick Delaere has long been an active ufologist in Belgium. In 2007, he was one of the founders of Belgisch UFO-meldpunt (www.ufomeldpunt.be), the main reporting center for UFO witnesses from the Flemish part of the country. He is the author of many investigations and publications, including the 2014 book "UFO’s in België en Nederland."

Ignacio Cabria was born in Santander in 1955. He graduated in Cultural Anthropology at the Universidad de Barcelona and got a M.A. in International Development and a D.E.A. (Diploma de Estudios Avanzados) in Social Anthropology, both at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He has worked in Spanish Embassies and in Cooperation for Development in Mozambique, Argentina, Dominican Republic and the Philippines.

Ion Panidis has been part of research groups in Greece since 1990, visiting landing sites, meeting contactees, and collecting data. He has written for 3rd Eye Magazine and Nexus Greece and presents a program on Hellas Radio called "Invisible Travellers."

Jean-Marc Wattecamps is a Belgian engineer associated with SOBEPS and COBEPS.

Full time UFO historical researcher/archivist on the West Coast, United States. I have technically been disabled since I was a teenager. I have worked in a variety of fields, from transportation logistics, to software development, to owning and running a chemical supply and research business that supplied research chemicals to various labs. But for the last decade, I have been doing UFO research full time.

Joacquim Deckers is the founder and chairman of UAP Coalition Netherlands.

John Priestland is the founder of UNHIDDEN, a mental health charity dedicated to supporting people who have had exceptional experiences, including UAP encounters. His organization provides mental health support and campaigns for a kinder, more empathetic approach to disclosure. By focusing on the mental health aspects of UAP experiences, UNHIDDEN aims to reduce stigma and ridicule. John advocates for greater awareness and acceptance within the professional community, producing white papers, engaging with government departments, and working towards legitimizing UAP sightings to ensure better support for those affected.

Jonathan Berte is the founder and chairman of Robovision, a leading AI solution provider. With expertise in applied physics and image processing, he has developed tailored solutions for machine vision and robotics. Jonathan is a regular guest lecturer at institutions like the London School of Economics and Vlerick Business School and writes a biweekly column in De Tijd. He is also a frequent speaker at events like TEDx and serves on various advisory boards.

Jonathan Davies is a lifelong experiencer with three major experiences, including two landings and a missing time event in January 1983 during the mass sightings of triangles in South Wales. He assists UNHIDDEN, a mental health charity, and founded MUFOG, a local UAP group offering support for experiencers. Jonathan is well-connected in the field of UAP studies.

Jérôme Ezan is a researcher at the Neurocentre Magendie-INSERM U1215 in Bordeaux, France. He holds a Ph.D. and focuses on neurobiology, specifically on planar cell polarity and plasticity. Additionally, he is associated with the Society for UAP Studies (SUAPS), where he contributes his scientific expertise to the interdisciplinary study of unidentified aerial phenomena.

Laurent Chabin, an electrical engineer specializing in Augmented Reality, has worked extensively on the Phoenix Lights case and developed real-time computer graphics animations. Recently, he has ventured into AI and Python programming, processing and formatting over 8,000 documents for the SCEAU association and Jean Pierre Rospars. Chabin created a semantic search engine for two UFO magazines and has served as a GEIPAN investigator for a decade starting in 2012.

Lee Dines serves as the European Advisor for the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU), bringing over two decades of dedicated interest in UAP phenomena. Previously, he served as the UK National Director for MUFON and as a field investigator. His expertise particularly shines in CE cases, the historical context of UAP studies, and the methodological rigor of investigations. Lee holds a BA (Hons) in Community Studies and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Psychology and is completing a postgraduate qualification in teaching. As a university lecturer in Police Education in England, he combines academic insight with practical experience, rooted in a 9-year tenure as a police officer, including five years as a sergeant.

Lorien Fenton is a radio host and UFO lecturer interested in the relationship between consciousness and unexplained phenomena. She has produced and co-produced many conferences and events related to the subject.

Márcio Parussini, based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, holds a degree in business administration. From a young age, his interest in mysterious themes, science, and science fiction led him to work in ufology. He has been researching the subject since 1997 and founded his first study group in 2008. In 2009, Márcio established the independent group GEUC – GRUPO DE ESTUDOS DE UFOLOGIA CENTÍFICA, which remains active today. He served as a consultant for the Brazilian magazine UFO, organized events such as UFOLOGICAL WEEK, and has been collecting data on UFO cases in Rio Grande do Sul since 2010, amassing over 1,150 documents. Márcio also contributes to other groups and entities with texts and research, participating in the RUG – Rede de Ufólogos Gaúchos to combat fraud. He publishes on Portal Fenomenum and focuses his research on local casuistry. In 2023, he began writing for the Spanish digital magazine Revista de Ufologia.

Mark Rodeghier is the scientific director and president of the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), a position he has held since 1986. He has a B.S. degree in astrophysics from Indiana University and received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His work in the UFO field began with CUFOS in 1974, and he has conducted research and investigation in various areas, including vehicle interference cases, physical trace events, and abduction cases, particularly focusing on the psychology and sociology of abduction experiencers, scientists’ beliefs about UFOs, and patterns in UFO reporting.

Michael Cifone holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science and is the founder and president of SUAPS (Society for UAP Studies) and LIMINA, a peer-reviewed academic journal. His goal is to elevate the study of unidentified aerospace phenomena to a higher level of seriousness, rigor, and scholarship. Michael is a respected educator with experience in editing and publishing, having given numerous presentations worldwide and recognized for his excellence in teaching. He is an expert in the collection, analysis, and presentation of information and communication of results, with works published in leading academic and professional journals.

Michael Hudson has been interested in the subject of UFOs since 1976, when he joined BUFORA. He is particularly interested in EM effects and manages the Vehicle Interference Project for BUFORA, along with their case files and digital archives.

Milton Hourcade is a prominent figure in ufology, particularly known for his contributions in Uruguay. He co-founded the Centro de Investigación de Objetos Voladores Inidentificados (CIOVI) in 1958, which played a significant role in the study and investigation of UFO phenomena in South America. CIOVI's methods and findings were later adopted by the Uruguayan Air Force's Comisión Receptora Investigadora de Denuncias Ovni (Cridovni) established in 1979.

Nagib Kary is a speaker and professional coach. He co-founded Vertical Project Media in 2018, organizing numerous events and symposiums in Lyon, France, on themes related to consciousness, quantum physics, and spirituality. He has interviewed many prominent personalities.

Ole Brænne (AFU board member since 2012) was born 1967 in Drammen, Norway. He is AFU’s representative and contact in Norway and has contributed much archival materials and a large number of library books to the foundation. Ole works as a DBA consultant (database administration) with ErgoGroup (www.ergogroup.no) in Oslo. He is interested in science fiction, books as well as movies. Collector of DVDs – see database of the 4.000 film titles owned by him, here. He has been interested in UFO phenomena since 1984, and since 1989 webmaster, co-editor, chairman, etc with UFO-Norway. Author of many Norwegian articles and booklets, with articles published in the AFU Newsletter, INFO Journal, and International UFO Reporter. Presented lectures at UFO congresses in Sweden and England. Interviewed in newspapers (Norway) on radio (Norway, England, USA) and TV (Norway). Specializing in the historical aspects of UFO research and a prominent researcher-member of the Magonia Exchange list. Chronological bibliography available for download here. Ole’s co-written “Norway in UFO Photographs: The First Catalogue (FOTOCAT Report #4)” available for download here. Current projects: adding cases to FOTOCAT, scanning UFO-Norway report archive, scanning UFO-Norway press clippings archive, searching all Norwegian 1946 newspapers for articles on ghost rockets. Address: Karl Staaffsvei 70, N-0665 Oslo, Norway.

Orestis Lazanakis is a Medical Doctor with prior experience in emergency patient transport and combat casualty care, and now presently following a specialization in Psychiatry. Interested in the UFO phenomenon since very young, he is an active member of the Greek organization ERENZO.

Paolo Toselli, born in 1960, has been actively interested in UFOs since 1973. His main interests lie in psychological, social, and cultural issues. He has written several books and numerous articles and participated in various conferences. Paolo is also active in studying contemporary legends. His research includes examining the human factor in IFO cases and cataloging ball lightning reports, university theses about UFOs, and local UFO sightings.

Philippe Ailleris is a Senior Project Controller at the Space Research and Technology Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands. He works in the Earth Observation Projects Department, specifically for the Sentinel-1 and CO2M satellite missions of the EU Copernicus Programme. A French citizen, Ailleris has been interested in the UAP topic since the creation of the French UAP research and information group (CNES/GEIPAN) in 1977. His research focuses on the scientific examination of UAP observations and the creation of a systematic and rigorous science of the UAP phenomena. In 2009, he founded the UAP Observations Reporting Scheme Project. Since 2015, he has been actively involved in the UFODATA project, developing a large international network of automated surveillance stations to monitor the skies for UAP. His latest research focuses on using Earth Observation civilian satellites to detect anomalous aerial events.

Ralf Van Thuyl, born in 1961, is a computer scientist with extensive experience in national and international SAP projects in the energy supply sector. He has been interested in UFOs since the mid-1970s and expanded his interests to fringe scientific topics in the mid-1980s. Within the GEP, he manages the data analysis tool and its contents.

Renate Fossdal Erdal is the leader of UFO NORWAY, the oldest UFO organization in Norway. With a background in construction engineering, she serves as a project manager in the construction industry and is a captain in the Norwegian National Guard. Her work with UFO Norway involves promoting UAP transparency, conducting surveys, organizing monthly meetings, engaging with the media, and advocating for greater public and governmental awareness of UAP phenomena. Renate's efforts include sending letters and books to government officials to push for disclosure. She has been interested in the topic her whole life and became a board member of UFO Norway in 2022, becoming the leader in 2023. Renate has 20 years of experience in project management and various roles in the construction industry.

Robert Fleischer, a German TV journalist, presenter, and filmmaker, was born in 1978 in Karl-Marx-Stadt, GDR. He studied interpreting at the University of Leipzig and the Université d’Orléans. Robert founded Exopolitik Deutschland in 2007 to disseminate serious information about the UFO phenomenon. Since 2010, he has published ExoMagazin.tv, an online TV magazine dedicated to the great mysteries of our time. He also hosts talk shows and writes articles for print magazines.

Robert McGwier was born in Lebanon, TN, and raised in Southwest Alabama. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics with concentrations in physics and computer science. He has spent time at Virginia Tech, where he was a professor and chief scientist of the Hume Center (now Hume National Security Institute), working in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics. McGwier has 27 years of experience working for the intelligence community of the USA. In 2011, he joined the faculty of Virginia Tech and Hume Center. He is also the founder of Federated Wireless, Inc. and Hawkeye 360, Inc. and retired in June 2020.

Robert Powell has over 28 years of experience in Engineering and Management in the Semiconductor Industry. He has managed a state-of-the-art chemistry laboratory and an R&D group working on nanotechnology using atomic force microscopes and near-field optical microscopy. Robert co-authored reports on the "Stephenville Lights" and the "UAP: 2013 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico" events.

Bob Spearing graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in Communications, majoring in Journalism and Film Production. He recently retired from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey after 34 years, where he served in various roles including Rail Traffic Controller, Locomotive Engineer, Safety Investigator, and Contract Administrator. Bob joined MUFON in 2014 as a Field Investigator and has served as National Director for Spain and India, leading MUFON’s Special Assignment Team. He has been involved in various special projects including MARRS, the Pine Bush UFO Museum, the MUFON Observer Network, and the MUFON UFO Map App. Bob has published numerous articles in various UFO-related magazines and appeared in television series such as "UFOs: The Lost Evidence" and "Ancient Aliens." He is a lifelong UFO enthusiast and has had two Ball of Light sightings, focusing his expertise on that phenomenon. He lives in the Pocono Mountains with his wife and twin boys.

Rony Vernet is the contact for UAP Check in Brazil. He is an electronics and computer engineer and a UAP researcher.

Ross Coulthart is noted for his investigative work into UAP phenomena and government secrecy.

Born in 1962 in La Vienne, France, 44 years old, single, upper level technician in deep sea diving training and advisor in aeronautical training for the last 12 years for the National Educational System, then CCINCA (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Nice Côte d'Azur [Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the French Riviera] see biography to download). My innate curiosity as well as my spirit of adventure and enterprise has always carried me forward, off the beaten path, in search of answers to the questions mankind has never stopped asking. Today more than ever, after more than 35 years of thinking about the subject and UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) dossier and EBE (Extraterrestrial Biological Entity) and I am convinced that it is necessary and urgent that mankind free itself from the cloak of obscurity and disinformation so that the facts and evidence can be clearly seen and thus can move forward, take new paths, and break through new stages in evolution. Having experienced numerous human technological and scientific adventures, today I offer to you - entrepreneurs with a spirit of adventure, financiers, corporate sponsors, open-minded donors - a dossier and project of unequalled importance, of incalculable consequences, for you, but also for the whole of humanity: The Phenix Project

Stefano Innocenti, born in Rome in 1957, has been involved in ufology since 1974. He has been a UFO investigator in Rome, Italy, for many years and an active member of the Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU) since 1986. Stefano coordinates the Regional Catalogue of UFO Sightings in Lazio (CARLA) and works as the technical manager of a university laboratory in Rome. He is a specialist in reported physical effects in Close Encounters, collecting and analyzing data for his EF.Cat project, which he has curated since 1992. Stefano served as provincial representative and regional coordinator for CISU, managing the first telephone hotline for UFO sighting reports in Rome. He has conducted numerous investigations on UFO cases and managed the archive and regional catalog of sightings in Lazio from 1990 to 2015. Since 2014, he has been a member of MUFON, serving as the State Section Director for Central Italy. In 2023, he became a member of the CISU board of directors.

Passionate about science and the arts, Sébastien Lilli founded INREES (Institute for Research on Extraordinary Experiences) in 2007, at the age of 20, with journalist Stéphane Allix, where he utilized his skills in communication and web development. As an author and director, he created the web documentary "Sentiments of Eternity" and was awarded for his short film "Dare to Exist" in 2012. Since 2013, he has been President of INREES and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Inexploré. In 2015, he launched INREES TV, a web TV offering documentaries exploring extraordinary phenomena. He is also the organizer of the Festival of the Extraordinary since 2016 and a contributing author to collective works.

Theo Paijmans is a Dutch researcher and author known for his work on historical ufology and anomalous phenomena.

Tom Whitmore, from the San Antonio area, is a board member and current investigator for MUFON (Mutual UFO Network). He studied business and finance at Portland State University and works as a financial analyst. With a long-term interest in UFOs starting in the 1960s, Tom has a special focus on the MJ-12 affair. He also has a blog where he writes research papers on secret topics. Tom enjoys reading history, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Toke Haunstrup from SUFOI (Scandinavian UFO Information) has participated in countless investigations of witness reports of UFOs in the Danish sky. He does this as a service to Danish citizens who...

Tom is a retired software developer who lives in Maine and is one of our CUFOS consultants on databases, in which he has a special interest and expertise in managing. He also was one of the original members of the UFODATA project and coded the website before he had to drop out of UFO activities for several years for family reasons. Among other current projects, Tom is assisting Matthew Szydagis from UAPx in putting together various databases to test some theories about UFO physics.

Williams Sam, 55, has been interested in UFOs since his adolescence. His interest was sparked by a family member's alleged UFO encounter. Since January 2020, he has been sharing serious UFO news on Twitter, aiming to remove the stigma around the topic. He works in a French administration handling disability pension applications and has interests in stop-motion animation, prestidigitation, cinema, science fiction, creativity, and synchronicities.

Wlad Simitch is a freelance photographer based in Paris, France, covering a wide range of subjects including portraits, corporate, and advertising. He works with photo agencies, the press, large companies, small businesses, and artists.

Yannick Peings specializes in Climate Science and Meteorology.

Akam Tredez attended the Beaux-Arts de Paris in 1991 and has continued his photographic research as a self-taught artist until today. For 15 years he was the assistant of his father-in-law, painter and illustrator Ruben Alterio. Intrigued by the UFO phenomenon since 2014 and by the official interest in the United States since 2017, he actively participates in relaying the information on Twitter. He serves as editor and writer.

Alessandro Cortellazzi has been active in Italian ufology since 1975, collecting and cataloguing UFO reports from the Northeastern regions. A former member of CUN, he has been with CISU since a founding member in 1986, serving as a council member and as editor of Rassegna Casistica for some years.

Writer journalist history of UFO in Germany - “Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies” (IFEX) at the University of Würzburg - affiliate the Society of UAP Studies (SUAPS)

Quality engineer in mass distribution, Arthur Manzinello has always been attracted by events/phenomena that we cannot yet explain, with a certain skepticism, but a great open-mindedness.

Born in 1986, this certified visual arts teacher started looking for reliable information on UAP in 2017 at the request of his students. Since then, he's been covering UAP research in France for The Debrief while vulgarizing international content on a demonetized platform of his own which was named Explorer Lab. After serving as Editor-in-Chief of UAP Check News between February 2023 and January 2024, he is currently editor-in-chief of Sentinel News.

Benny Christen Grandahl was born in 1964 and has had a keen interest in UFOs since 1974. Over various periods, he has been an active member of SUFOI - Scandinavian UFO Information – from the late 1970s until today. Benny holds a background in technical communication and online marketing. He frequently writes about UFOs in his own publications, as well as in SUFOI's and other Danish media. Additionally, he appears on Danish radio shows and podcasts discussing UFO-related topics.

Of Ukrainian-Cameroonian origin, Boris lives in a small village in Seine-et-Marne. After studying Social Psychology at the Sorbonne then an MBA in business school at PAU, he is currently a Consultant in Real Estate/Promotion/Construction and in Business Management/Strategy. He was expatriated for around ten years all over the world, is passionate about aeronautics, astrophysics, gastronomy, finance, IT, Diplomacy, Cinema, Art and Literature.

With a literary and artistic background, Estelle Moutet is a volunteer proofreader and journalist for UAPcheck.

Born in 1989, with a diploma in biotechnology, François Mathieu has pursued a career in the crafts, with a passion for history. He has worked in fields such as saddlery, blacksmithing with a specialization in cutlery, jewelry making, armour making and is one of the last people in Europe to know how to make whips. He became interested in uap phenomena as a result of his thirst for knowledge, and considers it the role of every citizen to look into this subject, as exploration is an inherent feature of mankind's great adventure.

Gian Paolo Grassino has been active in Italian ufology since the mid-70’s, has been a secretary of Centro Ufologico Nazionale, then secretary and later president of Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici, editor-in-chief of Ufologia (1979-1985) and of UFO – Rivista di informazione ufologica (1986-).

Gilbert is a Retired IP network core technician from Strasbourg who speaks German and English, is interested in science, aviation, astronomy and high-tech technology, and regularly produces 4k video montages.

Guillaume Fournier Airaud is a trained journalist and English trainer by trade. He finally changed his mind on the reality of the UAP phenomenon in 2021, after reading declassified government documents.

Hansjürgen Köhler founded CENAP (Central Research Network of Extraordinary Sky Phenomena) in Mannheim (Germany) in 1973, has long been a co-editor of its journal "CENAP-Report" and is coordinating the German UFO Hotline, collecting more than 10,000 witness reports up to now.

Born in 1987, Igor Kalytyuk is an expert of the information and technical department of Ukrainian Scientific Researching Center for Analyses of Anomalies "Zond". He was involved in the examination of UFO testimonies received under the state program from meteorological services within the framework of the State Committee for Hydrometeorology of the Ukraine.
He is editor of "Ufology News", YouTube channel "UFO and AAP scientifically", creator of the "Global Archive" project, author of the guide "How to Identify Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)?" , as well as several dozens of articles published in scientific publications.

Jeremy Puech, a 29-year-old French artist and prop maker, has been studying the UFO/UAP phenomenon for several years. He has written several articles for UAP Check and is a self-taught sculptor and prop maker interested in all aspects of the phenomenon.

Jochen Ickinger is an engineer and senior IT specialist who has been studying the UFO phenomenon since the 1980s, focusing on methodological and psychological aspects. He has written several articles and is a member of the German GEP and EuroUfo.net

Luis Ruiz Noguez is a chemical engineer living in Mexico City. A former editor of "Perspectivas Ufologicas", he is author of a few books about UFOs and is updating his own blog "Marcianitos verdes"

Marco Orlandi has been a member of the Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU) for more than 35 years. Since 1994, he has been coordinating Project AirCat to collect, file and catalogue all Italian UFO reports by pilots. He wrote several articles about those and published two editions of the AirCat full catalogue.

History, Astronautics and Science Fiction are among his other interests.

Matthieu Messonnet is a technician in the field of astronomy. He notably participated in the manufacture of an “All Sky” camera used as part of the Galileo project. He also has professional experience in the fields of optics and aeronautics. An amateur astronomer since adolescence, he is passionate about the potential scientific benefits arising from research on UAPs. The UAP phenomenon only reinforces his curiosity and fascination for the nature that surrounds us.

Born in St. Petersburg, Mikhail Gershtein graduated at Russian State Pedagogical University. He has written a large number of articles about UFOs in local and national media since 1988, has worked for some years as a journalist and UFO expert for the "Anomaliya" magazine, has been editor-in-chief of the monthly "UFO Navigator" e-zine and executive editor of popular magazine "Nexus". In 2002 he was elected as a Chairman of Russian Geographical Society’s UFO Commission and has since been an active member of EuroUFO.net.

Pablo Creus is a university student in Spain studying International Economics and Business. He is currently studying Geopolitics and Geoeconomics and has been following the UAP phenomenon for four years. Pablo manages the X account "UAP Spain."

Born in Turin in 1957, he studied classical, pedagogical disciplines, theology, and nursing sciences. He worked in private healthcare as a human resources manager until his retirement in 2021.

Passionate about UFOs since adolescence, he was the director of the Turin section of CUN (1975-1978) and co-founder of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies in 1985, holding various board positions. A field investigator since the 1970s, he has examined hundreds of sightings, especially close encounters of the third kind and military testimonies. He has published numerous articles in Italy and abroad and participated in various conferences.

Specializing since 1978 in humanoid landing cases (IR3), he became the coordinator of the "Project Italy 3" in 1984 for the archiving of Italian third-type cases. Since 1997, he has cataloged UFO sightings with military testimonies, establishing regular contact between CISU and the Ministry of Defense, which led to the declassification of UFO files by the Italian Air Force.

Also interested in the sociological aspects of UFOs, he has collected the largest Italian collection of UFO-inspired items.

Samson M. Ahlijah hails from Lomé au Togo. A lover of reading from an early age, he began writing at the age of 17. Today, he has more than half a dozen works to his credit, as well as several drafts.

With a Master's degree in Sociology, Sergio Sanchez Rodriguez has published several books on criminology and the sociology of crime. He has taught in these areas. He is also interested in new religious movements and, in general, the sociology of religions. Additionally, he has publications on legal and penal matters such as Law 20.000 (drug trafficking) and the Short Anti-Crime Agenda.

Being passionate about new technologies, and always fascinated by the way they are transforming our world, Stephan is in constant search of knowledge, and strives to stay at the cutting edge of technological advances in order to understand their impact and possibilities.

Sebastien works in a Software company, he has been a MUFON FRANCE investigator and an assistant editor at Ovnis, Science et Histoire magazine. He also helped write a book on UAP (UFOs, They Lied To Us by French author Nicolas Augusto). He is currently involved with TV shows Paranormal Investigations on French channel C8 and Enquêtes Mystérieuses on French channel RMC Story.

Thibaut Canuti is a contemporary historian and a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de l'Information et des Bibliothèques. He has written several books, including "Un fait maudit" and the two-volume "Histoire de l'ufologie française," authored numerous articles, and participated in various conferences. Thibaut is interested in all aspects of the UFO phenomenon and ufology and serves as an editor and writer.

Ulrich Magin is a German author and researcher, who has written many articles and books about UFOs and cryptozoology. This book review was originally prepared for GEP's Journal fur UFO-Forschung.