ATP Advanced Theoretical Working Group

The Advanced Theoretical Physics (ATP) Working Group was an invitation-only group of officers, officials and scientists, formed in 1985 to look into alleged rogue "black" UFO programs. Its stated mission: "There is a black UFO program someplace. Let's see if we can find it."

Col. John Alexander founded it. Lt. Col. Ron Blackburn is named as a co-founder in some accounts, including his own to Jacques Vallee in February 1990. Vallee called the group the "Secret Onion." Alexander's mentor, Maj. Gen. Albert Stubblebine, was forced into early retirement in 1984. He joined the defense contractor BDM as a vice president and provided access to its secure facility for the group's first meetings.

An endnote in Vallee's Forbidden Science lists eight alleged participants in the May 1985 meeting at BDM. They include Hal Puthoff, Oke Shannon and Jack Houck. The endnote adds that Ronald Pandolfi "also claims to have been involved." Puthoff is said to have presented remote viewing as a way to track or interface with UAP.

Vallee's journal records that Kit Green, often listed as a member, had been invited but could not attend, and that in May 1986 he refused to take part until the group had a budget and official status.

Vallee's Invisible College network includes the group. Puthoff and Alexander were among the first members of the NIDS advisory board in 1996, and Puthoff advised AAWSAP. Alexander later wrote that his inquiries found no covert UFO program.