Edward J. Ruppelt

Born in 1922, Edward J. Ruppelt was a U.S. Air Force officer who became closely associated with Project Blue Book, the Air Force program that examined reports of unidentified flying objects. He is widely credited with helping popularize the term “unidentified flying object,” or UFO, as a more neutral alternative to phrases like “flying saucer.”

Ruppelt served during World War II and later worked in intelligence-related Air Force assignments. In the early 1950s, he directed Project Blue Book and became known for pushing for a more careful, organized approach to investigating sightings, even as public curiosity and controversy around the subject kept growing.

After leaving that role, he wrote The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, a book that gave readers an insider’s view of the Air Force’s work on the phenomenon. Although he died young in 1960, his name is still remembered by readers interested in military history, Cold War culture, and the long public debate over UFOs.