AARO Hosts Private Workshop on UAP Data Standardization with Civilian Researchers, Academia, and Government Agencies

The Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) convened a private workshop in August 2025 in the Washington, D.C., area to address the standardization of UAP data collection, management, and analysis. The event was coordinated by AARO and hosted by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and brought together participants from government agencies, academic institutions, and civilian research organizations. A white paper detailing the workshop's proceedings and recommendations was published on AARO's official website in February 2026 and was subsequently reported by The Debrief on February 26, 2026. The workshop represents a notable shift in AARO's posture under current director Dr. Jon T. Kosloski compared to the more security-focused, limited-engagement approach of AARO's inaugural director, Sean M. Kirkpatrick. Key recommendations produced by the workshop included the development of standardized metadata templates incorporating AI tools with human oversight, open-ended public narrative reporting mechanisms, and the release of de-identified public UAP data to reduce stigma and build trust. Department of War spokesperson Sue Gough confirmed to The Debrief that AARO intends to use public reports to enhance UAP trend analysis, though no timeline was given for a public reporting mechanism.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) published a white paper in early February 2026 detailing the proceedings of a private workshop it convened in August 2025 in the Washington, D.C., area. The workshop was hosted by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) and brought together experts from government, academia, and civilian UAP research organizations. Participants operated under Chatham House Rules, with no photography or attribution of statements permitted without consent, and data collection was governed by Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

The workshop's agenda centered on five core areas: assessing the current landscape of UAP reporting systems and data repositories; identifying gaps in data collection, standardization, and accessibility; exploring methodologies for pattern recognition in UAP reports; nurturing trust between researchers and agencies; and proposing recommendations for a robust UAP data infrastructure. Breakout sessions addressed the integration of both quantitative sensor data and qualitative witness narratives, with an emphasis on cultural and experiential perspectives.

A central recommendation from the workshop was the creation of standardized metadata templates capturing contextual variables such as time, location, morphology, provenance, and environmental conditions. The white paper endorsed a hybrid human-AI model for data processing, citing AI's potential for transcription and large-scale pattern detection while warning of risks including bias amplification and inaccurate outputs. Participants also recommended open-ended narrative submission portals with AI-assisted structuring that witnesses could review, improved geolocation tools, and the release of de-identified public data.

Civilian participants who spoke with The Debrief on background described the workshop as constructive and solutions-oriented. One participant noted that AARO assembled "a cross-section, not only of the UAP community, but also of people from other federal groups or agencies." Another described "more transparency compared to their public statements and postings," attributing it to the trust established with select invitees in a private setting. No three-letter intelligence agencies were identified as being present by participants.

Department of War spokesperson Sue Gough stated in an email to The Debrief that "AARO anticipates using public reports to enhance overall UAP trend analysis and, when possible, to enrich open UAP cases from government and law enforcement sources." Gough also confirmed that AARO hopes to convene future workshops and collaborative opportunities, and that long-term success would be measured by higher-quality UAP reporting and improved understanding of sightings. As of publication, AARO's public reporting mechanism remained unavailable, with Gough offering no timeline: "We have nothing to announce at this time."

Primary sourceThe Debrief