In October 2024, a man named Jacob Barber stepped forward in Washington, D.C., with revelations that could reshape our understanding of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly referred to as UFOs. Barber, who claims over three decades of involvement with U.S. government programs and intelligence operations, brought information to Congress that he believes the public has a right to know.
“We’re in this rare opportunity in human history where it’s very clear that we know that there are things flying in the sky that are unexplained and un-understood, and that’s another one of the things that I’m uniquely providing information on,” Barber stated.
Unlike others who have speculated about a secret UAP retrieval program, such as David Grusch and Lue Elizondo, Barber asserts firsthand involvement. He alleges that he was part of a covert initiative focused on recovering and studying alien spacecraft.
Barber’s background supports his credibility. NewsNation verified his military records, confirming that he served as an airman in the U.S. Air Force during the late 1990s, specializing in aerospace mechanics. He was later recruited into the Air Force Special Operations unit known as “combat control,” where his skill set expanded to include roles such as helicopter pilot, freefall parachutist, and expert marksman. Barber’s NATO top-secret security clearance and an award for heroism during his service in Bosnia further underline his qualifications. Three former special operations soldiers corroborated his credentials.
One notable supporter of Barber’s claims is Col. John Blitch, a highly decorated former Delta Force sniper and nuclear weapons battalion commander. Blitch stated that he “absolutely” believes Barber’s account of UAP recoveries.
Barber’s path took a significant turn after the events of September 11, 2001. He described leaving the Air Force to establish himself as an independent contractor, which he says served as a cover for future assignments. According to Barber, these assignments included working at a testing facility in the desert, where he witnessed extraordinary phenomena.
“A lot of the work we did was on what I call ‘the range,’ where the U.S. government and its private partners used to test all kinds of things — weapon systems and resilience to weapon systems of certain craft — and so you see a lot of exciting things,” Barber explained.
During one such mission, Barber encountered what he described as an “exotic” object.
“Just visually looking at the object on the ground, you could tell that it was extraordinary and anomalous. It was not human,” he said. Barber provided a detailed account of a metallic, pearly white “egg” about the size of an SUV. The object emitted no thermal signature and appeared to defy conventional understanding of propulsion systems.
“I’ll tell you that because of the reaction of my leadership structure and because of my experience working in that capacity, everyone involved was convinced that what we were seeing and dealing with was, in fact, exotic in its origin,” Barber said. He added that members of the UAP Task Force later confirmed to him that the object was linked to nonhuman intelligence (NHI).
Barber also described another UAP, which he called an “eightgon.” This flying disc appeared to have eight delineated sections and left a profound emotional impact on him during a recovery mission.
“I felt this intense hybrid of sadness and happiness and beauty and song, and it was very disruptive to me,” Barber recounted, describing the experience as a deep connection to an otherworldly energy.
Barber’s testimony extends to claims of psionic abilities being used to summon and interact with UAPs. He asserts that individuals with “extratemporal abilities and sensitivities” played a role in these operations. Barber’s colleague, Don Paul Bales, corroborated the existence of these “psionics” and their purported capabilities.
Barber’s experiences were not without cost. He reported severe health issues following exposure to unknown materials during recovery missions. Symptoms included alopecia, skin loss, and a heart murmur. Dr. Garry Nolan, a Stanford immunology professor, reviewed Barber’s medical records and suggested the injuries were consistent with radiation exposure.
In addition to health concerns, Barber described threats to his safety and incidents involving the recovery of classified materials. He recounted missions to retrieve sensitive data stored on laptops known as Panasonic Toughbooks, which he claimed contained incriminating information about UAP recovery operations. Barber’s efforts to uncover the truth led him to suspect he was being targeted by unknown entities, prompting him to seek congressional support and go public with his story.
Barber has since formed the Skywatcher Team, which collaborates with government agencies to investigate UAP incidents. In one operation, the team reportedly summoned a UAP using psionics and captured footage of an object resembling a UAP encountered by Navy pilots in 2015. The video, showing the retrieval of a mysterious egg-shaped craft, is part of Barber’s push for greater transparency from the federal government.
“I feel I was able to fill in gaps that have been there for a long time that no other whistleblower has been able to do,” Barber said, reflecting on his meeting with congressional staffers.
Barber’s story raises profound questions about humanity’s place in the universe and the lengths to which secrecy has been maintained. Whether his claims will lead to broader disclosure remains to be seen, but his testimony has undeniably added a new dimension to the UAP discussion.
The MUFON webmaster is a dedicated UFO enthusiast with a lifelong fascination that began at the age of four after hearing about the Roswell incident. A US Air Force veteran, their journey into the unknown truly began to accelerate five years ago. Since then, they have been passionately researching the UFO phenomenon, striving to piece together a comprehensive understanding of the bigger picture of reality and humanity's place in the universe. With a blend of military experience and investigative zeal, the MUFON webmaster brings a unique perspective to the world of UFO research and exploration.