Jake Barber

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Veteran, c. 1990s–2010s (military); extended through contractor role

Case File

Background

Jake Barber is a U.S. Air Force special operations veteran who came forward publicly in January 2025, in an exclusive interview with journalist Ross Coulthart for NewsNation, to disclose his firsthand participation in a covert government UAP crash retrieval program. Barber claims to have directly participated in multiple retrieval operations - including one involving an egg-shaped craft - and presented never-before-seen video footage of such an operation to NewsNation. Three additional high-level military veterans corroborated his account on camera. The Pentagon confirmed it was investigating his claims following broadcast. Barber is one of the first insiders to speak on the record with this level of operational specificity since David Grusch's 2023 congressional testimony.

Service Period

c. 1990s–2010s (military); extended through contractor role

Clearance

Top Secret / SCI (reported; exact compartments not publicly specified)

Organizations

United States Air Force (Special Operations) · Unidentified Private Defense Contractor (UAP Retrieval Program)

Roles

U.S. Air Force Special Operations VeteranGovernment Contractor - Covert UAP Retrieval ProgramUAP Disclosure Whistleblower

Education

›U.S. Air Force training - specific details not publicly disclosed

Career Background

›Served in U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
›Transitioned to government contracting in classified programs
›Claims to have been recruited into a compartmented UAP retrieval program during contractor tenure

Key Events

1990s-2000sActive duty U.S. Air Force, Special Operations. Specific units and roles not publicly disclosed.

Post-serviceTransitions to government contractor role; becomes involved with a compartmented UAP retrieval program - exact timeline not publicly specified.

c. 2022-2023Barber contacts Ross Coulthart of NewsNation to share his account. Corroboration gathered from three additional named military veterans.

Jan 2025Barber provides video footage and full on-camera account to NewsNation. The special 'Hunting UFOs: The Crash Retrieval Whistleblower' airs January 18, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET.

Jan 2025Pentagon confirms it has opened an investigation into Barber's claims following the NewsNation broadcast.