Richard (Rick) Doty is a former Special Agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), primarily known for his involvement in various UFO-related disinformation campaigns and narratives that emerged during the late 1970s and 1980s. Stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, Doty’s background as a government agent provided him with a unique platform that significantly influenced the modern UFO "Core Story".
Key Roles and Narratives
Doty’s influence on UFO studies is defined by his role in several major events:
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The Paul Bennewitz Case: Doty is widely cited as a central figure in a disinformation campaign against Paul Bennewitz, a businessman and UFO enthusiast. Doty allegedly provided Bennewitz with fabricated information and advanced technology to "prove" alien activity at Kirtland AFB, an effort intended to distract him from authentic, sensitive military projects.
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Majestic 12 (MJ-12): Doty is linked to the propagation of the "MJ-12" documents—purported classified papers describing a secret government committee managing the UFO phenomenon. These documents were famously shared with researchers like Bill Moore and Jaime Shandara, laying the groundwork for many modern conspiracy theories.
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Project Serpo: In 2005, a narrative emerged regarding a 1960s human-alien exchange program called Project Serpo. Researchers identified Doty as a primary source of this story, which was later characterized as a hoax designed to manipulate the UFO community.
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The "Aviary": Doty was reportedly a member of a group of alleged "insiders" and former intelligence officers known as the "Aviary," who utilized code names (such as "Falcon") to disseminate UFO-related information to the public and researchers.
Perspectives from the UFO Community
The view of Richard Doty remains deeply polarized between those who see him as a whistleblower and those who view him as a professional manipulator:
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Skeptical Sites (e.g., RealityUncovered.net): Hoax-busting organizations view Doty as a "source" of an elaborate, decades-long scam. They characterize his activities as part of a "disingenuous puppet show" that has trapped researchers in a "pernicious hall of mirrors".
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Pro-UFO Sites and Researchers: While some early researchers like Bill Moore and Linda Moulton Howe relied heavily on his information, many modern UFO proponents view him with extreme caution. His legacy is often used as a cautionary tale about the vulnerability of the field to government-sponsored disinformation.
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AARO Assessment: The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) characterizes narratives associated with figures like Doty as "circular reporting". AARO found that many modern claims of hidden reverse-engineering programs stem from a consistent group of individuals who have been involved in various UFO-related activities since 2009, reinforcing beliefs without empirical evidence.