Jeffrey Nuccetelli

U.S. Air Force Veteran and Vandenberg UAP Witness

Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Nuccetelli is a former U.S. Air Force military police officer who served 16 years on active duty. He is best known for documenting and later testifying to Congress about a cluster of UAP incursions around Vandenberg Air Force Base (now Vandenberg Space Force Base) from 2003–2005, incidents he says were witnessed by multiple personnel and reported up the chain of command during high‑priority national missile defense operations. He provided sworn written and oral testimony to the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets on September 9, 2025.

Early career and roles

Nuccetelli describes himself as a former military police officer with 16 years of active‑duty service in the U.S. Air Force. In his Congressional introduction he was also described as a career federal employee with 20+ years of experience in national security, law enforcement, and public administration.

The Vandenberg Incidents (2003-2005)

Nuccetelli’s written testimony outlines five UAP incidents near Vandenberg Air Force Base between 2003 and 2005, a period he says coincided with launches the National Reconnaissance Office deemed “the most important in twenty‑five years.” According to him, each incident was witnessed by multiple personnel, documented, investigated, and reported up the chain of command.

1) 14 October 2003 – The “Vandenberg Red Square”

Boeing contractors allegedly observed a massive, glowing red square silently hovering over two missile defense sites; after several minutes it drifted behind nearby hills. Nuccetelli states that official Air Force records of this event are held by AARO and the FBI. (See “Records & custody” below for later, conflicting statements about record retention.)

Media coverage that later amplified the account includes Independent and AOL reports, which summarize Nuccetelli’s description of a red, football‑field‑scale object observed near launch pads at Vandenberg. (The Independent)

2) Night of 14 October 2003 – “It’s coming right at us…”

While on duty later that night, Nuccetelli says security guards at a critical launch site reported a bright, fast‑moving object. Over the radio, he heard: “It’s coming right at us… now it’s right here!” Moments later: “It took off — it’s gone!” When he arrived, five witnesses described a massive rectangular craft, larger than a football field, hovering silently for ~45 seconds before departing at high speed.

3) ~One week later – Coastal approach and rapid departure

A patrol reported a strange light over the ocean heading toward the base. Believing it an unannounced aircraft, they declared an emergency and launched an armed response. Before responders arrived, the object descended, hovered briefly or landed, then vanished instantly into the night. A witness was allegedly threatened and told to keep quiet, which Nuccetelli says discouraged further reporting.

4) 2005 – Low‑altitude triangle over main base

A patrol reported a massive triangular craft, larger than a C‑130, drifting silently over the main base before disappearing.

5) Personal sighting – Blue‑white orb

Off duty at home, Nuccetelli and two friends observed a rhythmically pulsing light maneuver “like a butterfly,” disappearing and reappearing before resolving into a huge blue‑white orb ~200 feet above his house that then receded into the sky.

Nuccetelli’s framing: he argues these were “unresolved incursions over one of our nation’s most important bases”, not rumors or misidentifications.

Records & custody (AARO/FBI)

• Written testimony claim: “Official Air Force records documenting [the Red Square event] are now held by AARO and the FBI.”
• Oral Q&A claim (same hearing): Nuccetelli told members that AARO informed him it could not locate records and that Air Force police records are destroyed on a three – year schedule, citing a FOIA response he said he received. He added that he personally maintained a police blotter document and turned it over to AARO and the FBI. (Rev)

Note: These statements, records held by AARO/FBI vs. records destroyed/unlocatable, sit in tension. We classify this as Disputed in the taxonomy below and encourage release of any surviving logs or corroborating documentation to resolve the contradiction.

Congressional testimony (September 9, 2025)

Nuccetelli appeared before the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets for a hearing titled “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection.” He submitted written testimony and delivered oral remarks under oath in open session (HVC‑210, U.S. Capitol). Media outlets and C‑SPAN carried the proceedings. (Oversight Committee)

Policy asks in his statement

Nuccetelli urged Congress to:

1. Fund independent research on UAP;
2. End secrecy and over‑classification; and
3. Protect witnesses from retaliation.

Hearing context

During the same hearing, Rep. Eric Burlison played a new, previously unseen military video (MQ‑9 Reaper provenance claimed) of a Hellfire missile striking or passing through a reflective object over the Gulf of Aden (off Yemen) on Oct. 30, 2024—a clip that sparked debate over authenticity and interpretation. Nuccetelli characterized such evidence as important for public understanding. (The Pentagon did not authenticate the video at the time of reporting.) (ABC News)

Public interviews and prior mentions

Nuccetelli discussed the Vandenberg “Red Square” in public forums prior to his 2025 testimony, including podcast interviews that previewed details later included in his congressional statement and subsequent press coverage. (Spotify)

Significance within the broader UAP record

• Nuclear/missile‑site adjacency: If accurate, these incidents would add to a long‑running pattern of reported UAP activity around sensitive missile and strategic defense infrastructure, warranting rigorous, de‑stigmatized inquiry and standardized reporting/record retention. (Note: specific comparative cases are outside this biographical scope.)
• Data stewardship gap: The alleged destruction of base police logs on a recurring schedule highlights the need for federally mandated archival practices for UAP‑relevant materials (logs, radar, telemetry), especially at high‑value installations. (Rev)

Key chronology

• 2003–2005: Five UAP incidents reported by Nuccetelli at/near Vandenberg AFB; the 14 Oct 2003 “Red Square” anchors the sequence.
• 2023–2024: Public discussion of “Red Square” surfaces in media and interviews ahead of formal testimony. (The Independent)
• Sept 9, 2025: Nuccetelli provides written and oral testimony before the House Oversight Task Force. (Oversight Committee)

References

• Nuccetelli, J. Written Testimony to the House Oversight Committee Task Force (Sept 8, 2025). Oversight.gov (PDF).
• Hearing page & docket: “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection” (Sept 9, 2025), U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. (Oversight Committee)
• Hearing transcript (unofficial): Rev.com, “House UAP Whistleblower Hearing,” including Nuccetelli Q&A on records/AARO and his opening statement. (Rev)
• Press coverage: DefenseScoop; ABC News; CBS News; The Independent; AOL/Yahoo. (DefenseScoop)
• Video: C‑SPAN and network uploads of the 2025 House UAP hearing; witness clips. (YouTube)

Further reading

• Written Testimony (PDF): “Nuccetelli – Written Testimony,” House Oversight Committee (released Sept. 8, 2025).
• Hearing page: “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection,” witness list and documents. (Oversight Committee)
• Oral transcript (unofficial): Rev.com transcript of the hearing (includes Q&A on record retention and AARO). (Rev)
• Media coverage: DefenseScoop summary of witness claims; ABC News and CBS News coverage of the hearing and video shown. (DefenseScoop)

Claims Taxonomy

Verified

Nuccetelli’s identity as a USAF veteran and former military police officer; his appearance and sworn testimony before the House Oversight Task Force on Sept. 9, 2025; and the existence of his written statement. (Oversight Committee)

Probable

Multiple UAP incursions (2003–2005) near Vandenberg, with multi‑witness accounts described by Nuccetelli and said to have been documented and reported at the time; details of the “Red Square” report as summarized in his written/oral testimony and subsequent mainstream coverage. While the documentation is not publicly released, the consistency of his narrative across official testimony and media strengthens the claim.

Disputed

Custody/availability of official records: Written testimony asserts AARO/FBI hold Air Force records for the 2003 event; oral Q&A states AARO could not locate them and that Air Force police records were destroyed per schedule, with Nuccetelli providing personal documentation to AARO/FBI. These statements conflict and remain unresolved publicly.

Legend

None in this article.

Misidentification

No demonstration to that effect has been presented in the cited record; classification not applied.

Speculation labels

• Hypothesis: If the Vandenberg objects exhibited hovering without acoustic signature and instant acceleration, they may embody non‑conventional propulsion or unknown flight regimes inconsistent with aerodynamic/control‑surface craft. This is a hypothesis; no sensor data is publicly released in the record cited here.
• Witness Interpretation: Descriptors such as “glowing red square,” “massive triangular craft,” and “blue‑white orb” reflect perceptual impressions under stress and low‑light conditions, which could affect shape, color, and scale estimation.
• Researcher Opinion: Pending independent release of original logs/radios, perimeter camera footage, launch‑range telemetry, or radar, the most productive next step is a targeted records search and preservation order at Vandenberg‑adjacent units and contractors, plus protected interviews with named guards and contractors referenced in the testimony.

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