JRE 2244 · December 17, 2024
Ryan Graves
Who is Ryan Graves?
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Topics and Timestamps
- 01Ryan Graves, former Navy F/A-18F pilot, was the first active duty military officer to publicly disclose regular UAP sightings
- 02Graves discusses his experiences encountering unidentified aerial phenomena during military operations and the stigma around reporting them
- 03He explains the formation of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics UAP Integration & Outreach Committee and his role as Chair
- 04Graves founded Americans for Safe Aerospace to advocate for pilot safety and proper UAP investigation protocols
- 05Discussion covers the scientific approach to studying UAPs and why the military and government have been slow to take reports seriously
- 06Graves details his current work with StarSense Innovations and efforts to destigmatize UAP discussion in aviation communities
- ▶Graves explains his decision to go public as the first active duty pilot to disclose UAP sightings0:05:30
- ▶Discussion of the stigma and career risks pilots faced when reporting UAP encounters0:15:45
- ▶Graves details his role with the AIAA UAP Integration & Outreach Committee0:28:20
- ▶Explanation of Americans for Safe Aerospace and its mission to advocate for proper investigation protocols0:42:10
- ▶Discussion of StarSense Innovations and the importance of data collection in UAP research0:58:40
The Show
Joe brings on Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot and F/A-18F Super Hornet driver who became the public face of military UAP disclosure. Graves is one of the few active duty pilots willing to go on record about regularly encountering unidentified aerial phenomena during operations, which took serious guts given how the military has historically treated such reports.
The conversation digs into why pilots have been reluctant to report UAPs for decades. The stigma was real and pervasive, with officers and pilots risking their credibility and careers by even mentioning these encounters. Graves explains how he eventually decided to break that silence and become the first active duty pilot to publicly disclose these sightings, fundamentally changing the conversation around UAPs from conspiracy fodder to a legitimate national security and aviation safety issue.
Graves walks through his current roles, including serving as the first Chair of the AIAA's UAP Integration & Outreach Committee, which represents a massive shift in how aerospace and engineering communities are approaching these phenomena. He also founded Americans for Safe Aerospace, an organization dedicated to advocating for pilot safety and pushing for proper investigation protocols. These aren't fringe operations - they're serious efforts to legitimize UAP research within established institutions.
The conversation touches on his company StarSense Innovations and how technology and data collection are becoming crucial to understanding these phenomena scientifically. Rather than anecdotal reports, the push is now toward measurable evidence and rigorous analysis. Graves emphasizes that this isn't about little green men or conspiracy theories, it's about aviation safety and understanding phenomena that pilots are encountering that don't fit conventional explanations.
Throughout the episode, Graves maintains a measured, rational approach to UAPs while acknowledging the genuine mysteries pilots have observed. He's essentially the bridge between the military aviation community and the broader conversation about UAPs, bringing credibility and scientific rigor to a topic that desperately needed both.
Best Quotes
“The stigma around reporting UAPs was so strong that pilots would rather risk their lives than risk their careers by saying anything”
— Ryan Graves
From the JRE 2244 conversation with Ryan Graves.
“We need to approach this scientifically and take the observations of trained military pilots seriously”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2244 conversation with Ryan Graves.
“Aviation safety depends on understanding what's actually in our airspace, regardless of what we call it”
— Ryan Graves
From the JRE 2244 conversation with Ryan Graves.
“The shift from dismissal to legitimate investigation represents real progress for the aerospace community”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2244 conversation with Ryan Graves.
“These phenomena deserve serious study through proper channels and rigorous methodology”
— Ryan Graves
From the JRE 2244 conversation with Ryan Graves.
