David Kozik, a Senior Executive Service civil servant within the Pentagon, has been identified as the central figure responsible for managing all UFO-related documentation passed to the US Congress since late 2017. Serving as Director of Congressional Activities under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, Kozik oversees intelligence communications for AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office), which investigates unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP). Unusually, Kozik has held this dual role through three presidential administrations—two Trump terms and the Biden administration—a tenure far exceeding typical Senior Executive Service rotations. Prior to 2017, Kozik’s public record is minimal, with limited personal or professional information available. His responsibilities include maintaining an internal tracking database that determines which UAP matters Congress is made aware of, effectively controlling the flow of information within the Department of Defense (DoD).
Research and witness disclosures reveal that Kozik’s office acts as a choke point for congressional enquiries concerning UAP issues. Emails released in March 2024 indicate active management of what is included under AARO’s remit, reflecting internal resistance to adding certain UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) topics. Notably, lawmakers such as Representatives Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, and Andy Ogles have reported being denied access to classified facilities linked to UAP investigations, with blocks attributed to the intelligence community rather than legislative committees. These access restrictions have heightened calls for budgetary consequences through the Holman rule. Meanwhile, multiple insiders, including former military whistleblower David Grusch, claim intelligence agencies such as the CIA and the Defence Intelligence Agency are obstructing file releases, complicating presidential efforts toward transparency. Industry figures like Jeremy Corbell have contributed to lobbying efforts by providing select classified footage, though access remains tightly controlled through ‘bigot lists’ security protocols that restrict information even from the President if deemed unnecessary.
The DoD Inspector General investigation covered in DoD Inspector General Finds No Evidence of Reprisal in UAP Whistleblower Clearance Revocation is a direct consequence of the same institutional arrangement described here Grusch's clearance revocation was processed through exactly the kind of single-point gatekeeping structure this article documents, with predictable results for anyone who challenged it.
The consolidation of UAP information control under Kozik’s extended tenure fits a broader pattern of deeply institutionalised secrecy within the Pentagon’s handling of unexplained phenomena. The UAP issue has historically been characterised by compartmentalisation, with key data often withheld under classified special access programmes dating back to early Cold War investigations such as Project Sign and Project Grudge. Such programmes carry longstanding cultural and bureaucratic inertia, tied to national security concerns and technological sensitivities. The resistance to disclosure despite congressional directives suggests an enduring divide between intelligence agencies and legislative oversight. Kozik’s unusual longevity in this position may reflect this stalemate, with his office exercising decisive influence over what reaches elected officials. This gatekeeping role emphasises the continuing challenges in achieving comprehensive public or governmental understanding of UAP phenomena, situating the current disclosures and obstruction within a complex matrix of defence secrecy, intelligence priorities, and evolving congressional scrutiny.
Source: UFO News
