Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded and led by former U.S. Navy F/A-18 pilot Ryan Graves. Operating out of Washington, D.C., the group focuses on sightings and experiences of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), particularly as they relate to aviation safety and national security. ASA describes itself as “military pilot-led,” drawing on the credibility of aircrew who have served in operational roles, to push for greater transparency, reporting protections, and a more rigorous research framework around aerial phenomena.

The organization matters because it seeks to bridge the gap between military and civilian aviation communities, policy makers, and scientists around a subject long marginalized—yet rich in potential implications for flight safety, airspace oversight, and governmental accountability.

Ryan Graves serves as ASA’s Founder and Executive Director. Before starting ASA, he logged a decade of service as a Navy pilot—including deployments in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve—during which he says he experienced UAP encounters firsthand via multiple sensor systems. These encounters eventually became part of his public testimony before Congress. The founding of ASA represents Graves’ effort to channel his personal experiences into institutional and legislative change, especially around how pilots can report unusual aerial observations without risking professional consequences.

One of ASA’s central programs is its confidential reporting channel for UAP sightings by military pilots, commercial aircrew, veterans, and others. Reports are reviewed by experts, and de-identified versions may be published to protect witnesses’ identities. ASA also supports individuals in choosing whether to disclose publicly or remain anonymous. Beyond collecting reports, the organization engages in advocacy, working with Congress, the Department of Defense, NASA, and regulatory bodies to develop safer and clearer systems for UAP reporting.

It has endorsed legislation like the “Safe Airspace for Americans Act,” which would establish legal protections for pilots, allow pilot reports through NASA’s ASRS (Aviation Safety Reporting System), and make UAP reports publicly available.

ASA’s leadership and advisory structure includes former Navy pilots (e.g., David Fravor, Alex Dietrich), academic researchers (e.g., Avi Loeb, Garry Nolan), and national security professionals (e.g., Christopher Mellon, Tim Gallaudet). These figures contribute domain experience—flight operations, sensor and instrument knowledge, academic rigor, and security oversight. This mix shapes ASA’s public messaging and research collaborations; for example, ASA has connected with NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team and held active consultations with congressional offices.

Challenges surrounding stigma and institutional barriers persist. Many pilots reportedly fear damage to their careers, the possibility of being dismissed or socially ostracized, or losing certification if they report UAP encounters. ASA works to reduce those barriers. Through policy white papers, legislative endorsements, and hearings, the group argues that aviation safety is compromised when sightings go unreported or are handled without scientific rigor.

Americans for Safe Aerospace has quickly grown since its formal establishment in 2023 as a 501(c)(3), building a membership in the tens of thousands. It is now described as one of the largest UAP advocacy groups globally by member count. As it consolidates its role in public discourse, it focuses on three overlapping domains: aviation safety, national security, and transparent research. Its work probes the unknown without speculation, emphasizing what can be documented, what policy structures might safely be adopted, and how pilots and airspace users can be better protected when they witness the inexplicable.