NICAP, Structure and Operations

Summary

NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) is an organization that appears to be loosely structured yet efficient in its operations. Stuart Nixon, with a background in investigative journalism, is the current Executive Director. Alongside John Acuff and Charles Miller, he forms the Editorial Review Board, responsible for communication, including newsletters, press, and other media, as well as special reports and programs. This board relies heavily on both an informal advisory group and a well-developed network of investigators. The advisory group includes experts in various disciplines such as physics, astronomy, anthropology, medicine, and psychology, and also includes some ex-CIA and defense intelligence personnel who advise on investigative techniques and NICAP's government relations. There does not seem to be a systematic process for selecting these advisors, but rather an open procedure where individuals can offer their services through Nixon or the Review Board.

The investigator system is robust. Nixon has divided the country into regions, each with an assigned investigator. Any member is encouraged to request a form to apply for this position. The requirements include a minimum age of 25, formal training or experience in some branch of science or other specialized background applicable to systematic information collection, and the ability to cover an area of at least 50 miles in diameter within an hour. As of a few months ago, about 35 investigators were located throughout the country, with more in the process of being established. Their backgrounds included 7 PhDs, 23 BAs or BSs, and others with college training but no degrees. Professionally, they included 4 physical scientists, 13 engineers, 3 college professors, and 13 specialists such as doctors, technicians, computer programmers,