An astronomer at Ohio State and later Northwestern University, Hynek was hired by the Air Force in 1948 to explain sightings away. He stayed with Project Sign, Grudge and Blue Book for about 20 years and slowly came to think a small core of cases deserved real study.
He testified in 1966 and again in 1968. After Blue Book closed he founded the Center for UFO Studies and gave the world the "close encounters" scale, first, second and third kind.
On the record
One is led to ask whether there might not indeed be a signal somewhere in the noise.
Hearings
Testified alongside
Harold BrownHector QuintanillaJames E. McDonaldCarl SaganRobert L. HallJames A. HarderRobert M. L. Baker Jr.