The UFO Research Coalition was established in 1994 as an umbrella organization under which the following three major American UFO associations could jointly conduct major scientific research projects. The Coalition and its three components are 501(c) (3) non-profit corporations. (source)
The Coalition’s Philosophy regarding UFO Research
Delphos: A Close Encounter of the Second Kind by Ted Phillips (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 2002
The coalition approaches the UFO phenomenon as a scientific mystery which is unresolved. As such, it has no specific model of reality, or theoretical agenda that it is pushing. Each reported incident is taken, initially, as an independent case to be investigated on its own merits, and which is amenable to many possible solutions. If evidence points to a mundane solution (such as misidentifications of natural or artificial objects which are well understood), then that answer is good and sufficient for the goals of the Coalition. If evidence points to an occurrence which cannot reliable or even reasonably be explained by a mundane solution, then the philosophy of the Coalition is to say exactly that. We intend to go no further than evidence and reasonable deduction allows. But we note that such an attitude properly cuts both ways: that is, one should not stretch nor ignore evidence in order to explain an incident as a mundane event, either. We recognize that both sorts of extremism’s plague the research and commentary on this subject, and it is our goal not to contribute to that problem.
Individual members of the Consortium will have their own favored hypothesis, naturally. This is commonplace in science, and even proper, as models of reality often have creative research. One such model commonly entertained in Ufology is the “Extraterrestrial Hypothesis” (that UFOs are Extraterrestrial machines). The Coalition neither asserts nor denies the ETH as “true”. Individual researchers may feel that a particular case points to such ideas a the ETH, but that model of reality must face just so rigorous a standard of evidence and “proof” as any other concept. (source)
Associated UFOlks of the UFO Research Coalition:
Jan Aldrich – Author / Investigator / Researcher.
Walt Andrus – “…a founding member of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) in 1969 and the International Director of the MUFON from 1970 to July 16, 2000… was a member of the Board of Directors of the joint USA-CIS Aerial Anomaly Federation. He was also on the Board of Directors for the influential UFO Research Coalition (URC)” (source)
Don Berliner – “was also a staff writer for the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). He is board chairman of the non-profit Fund for UFO Research, Inc., and is a delegate to the UFO Research Coalition.“ (source)
Tom Deuley – “A retired Naval Officer with a background in Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Power, and Communications Security. Co-founder and National Board member of The Fund for UFO Research, Registered Agent, Corporate Secretary and Board member for the Mutual UFO Network, MUFON Representative to, and affiliate researcher for the UFO Research Coalition.” (source)
Marie Galbraith – “designed to inform world leaders of the validity of the UFO issue and to increase pressure for disclosure of government files. … arranged for the three most influential civilian UFO groups in America to unite under the temporary banner of the UFO Research Coalition… Drawing on these organizations’ data resources, a 169-page special report, “Unidentified Flying Objects Briefing Document: The Best Available Evidence,” was compiled.” (source)
Richard Hall (deceased) – “Past NICAP Assistant Director, former editor of the MUFON Journal and past Chairman of UFO Research Coalition (UFORC)” (source)
Mark Rodeghier – “CUFOS has formal ties with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) through the UFO Coalition, a partnership that has completed a number of joint projects, such as the Abduction Monitoring study, or the publication of specialized monographs.” (source)
John Schuessler – “He is a founding member of the Mutual UFO Network, Administrator for the MUFON Medical Committee and a member of the UFO Research Coalition Board of Directors.” (source)
Rob Swiatek – “…has served as Secretary-Treasurer of both FUFOR (since 1986) and the UFO Research Coalition (URC) since 1997. Robert has been on the Board of MUFON since 2004.” (source)
Sue Swiatek – “has created many publication covers for FUFOR & the UFO Research Coalition.” (source)
Michael Swords – Author / Investigator / Researcher / Curator.
Walter Webb – Author / Investigator / Researcher.
… And Others
The UFO Research Coalition has been joined in its present activities by representatives of other substantial associations:
Ted Rowe, Executive Director of the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena in Boulder Creek, Calif., which exists to “enhance aviation safety and scientific knowledge” through the collection and study of reports of unexplained phenomena which might pose a hazard to aircraft.
Dr. Colm Kelleher, Administrator of the National Institute for Discovery Science, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded in the mid-1990’s as a privately funded scientific institute engaged in the research of aerial and other related phenomena.
Peter Davenport, Director of the National UFO Reporting Center, in Seattle, Washington, which was established in 1974 and is now the largest recipient of first-hand reports of UFOs.
1993 The Fund joined with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) to form the UFO Research Coalition to conduct major projects, at the suggestion of Las Vegas builder Robert Bigelow, who promised major funding.
1994 Disagreement over control of the UFO Research Coalition lead to a complete break with Robert Bigelow. Laurance Rockefeller appeared on the scene, ready to fund major projects through his intermediary, Mrs. Marie “Bootsie” Galbraith.
…
2001 Richard Hall’s UFO Evidence, Volume Two, subsidized by the UFO Research Coalition, is published.
It was also deja vu all over again when earlier this year Bigelow invested in MUFON, which he also did back in 1994. This time around he’s funding the development of a UFO rapid response STAR Team, which is slightly different than the pilot program he funded back in ’94:
“Robert Bigelow suggested working with a coalition of U.S. UFO organizations comprised of MUFON, the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR). By 1995, the groups involved had formed the UFO Research Coalition (URC), and they have continued working together on a number of very successful projects including the Ambient Monitoring Project aimed at measuring environmental changes during on-going abduction experiences.”
One year later, at the 1983 MUFON UFO Symposium in Pasadena, California, the steering committee’s work resulted in the formation of the North American UFO Federation (NAUFOF). Dr. Richard Haines was selected as the first director of the new organization. Although the federation lasted less than two years, due to lack of financial support from other organizations, it was a very important test case for bringing people with an interest in UFOs together.
When Dr. Haines saw an opportunity for cooperation between Russian and U.S. ufologists and formed the Joint USA-CIS Aerial Anomaly Federation, MUFON pledged support this new venture. A major meeting of the participants, including representatives from Russia and the Ukraine, was held in conjunction with the 1994 MUFON UFO Symposium in Austin, Texas.
In 1994, Robert Bigelow suggested working with a coalition of U.S. UFO organizations comprised of MUFON, the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) and the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR). By 1995, the groups involved had formed the UFO Research Coalition (URC), and they have continued working together on a number of very successful projects including the Ambient Monitoring Project aimed at measuring environmental changes during on-going abduction experiences.
The Robert Girard Collection – Succession: Right of First-Refusal / Ownership of the collection reverts to URC in case of organizational dissolution.
The Edward Ruppelt Papers – Succession: “The UFO Research Coalition under the keepership of CUFOS owns The Ruppelt papers. Dr. Swords holds the collection for CUFOS and URC until they request relocation.”
The Michael Sword Collection – Succession: “This collection is, in part, owned or controlled by CUFOS, and, in part, by Dr. Swords. The collection will be given to CUFOS when appropriate.”
Project 1947: A Preliminary Report on the 1947 UFO Sighting Wave (including special reports on Sweden and Scandinavia, Finland, France and Australia) by Jan Aldrich (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 1997
Near miss with a UFO: Swissair Flight 127 (aka The UFO Research Coalition Report on Swissair 127) by Don Berliner & Robert Durant (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 1999
UFO Evidence – Volume 2 by Richard H. Hall (“subsidized by the UFO Research Coalition) 2001
Delphos: A Close Encounter of the Second Kind by Ted Phillips (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 2002
From Airships to Arnold: A Catalogue of UFO Reports in the Early 20th Century (1900-1946) by Richard H. Hall (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 2007
Final Report on the America West Airline Case, May 25-26 by Walter N Webb (Published by the UFO Research Coalition) 1995