Karl Nell

Karl Nell is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with advanced degrees in engineering and strategic studies who served as the Army's liaison and later director supporting the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force between 2021 and 2022. He worked to shape federal policy on UAP and engaged senior Defense Department and Congressional leaders on the issue.

What was his role in the UAP Task Force?

Nell served as the Army's liaison and later director supporting the Unidentified Aerial (later Anomalous) Phenomena Task Force from 2021 to 2022. During this time, he engaged senior leaders in the Defense Department and Congress on UAP matters and helped shape legislative language that appeared in the 2022 and 2023 National Defense Authorization Acts, including provisions for whistleblower protection and historical review mandates.

What is his background?

Nell holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and the Army War College, with expertise in electrical, mechanical, and computer science engineering as well as strategic studies. His military service includes assignments with the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Africa Command, and Army Futures Command. He also worked in the private sector for Bell Telephone Laboratories, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, TASC, CACI, ENSCO, and Northrop Grumman.

What has he said about non-human intelligence?

In 2023, Nell stated that claims about a terrestrial arms race over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin are "fundamentally correct," and that "at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence." At the 2024 SALT iConnections conference in New York, he stated he had "zero doubt" that non-human intelligence exists and has been interacting with humanity, and that some unelected officials inside government know it.

What policy changes has he advocated for?

Nell called on a Stanford University conference for a "campaign plan" that would force greater transparency and a "Manhattan project" to reverse engineer recovered UAP. He worked closely with whistleblower David Grusch, who later went public with allegations that the U.S. government and contractors have recovered intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin.

What are his current affiliations?

Nell is affiliated with the Sol Foundation. He stepped down from the UAP Disclosure Fund's Board of Directors on March 4, 2025.