Richard M. Dolan is one of the most recognizable researchers and communicators in contemporary ufology—often dubbed “Mr. Ufology” for his blend of deep archival work, policy analysis, and media presence. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Brentwood, Long Island, Dolan brings an academic lens to a field that too often swerves between sensationalism and dismissal. With degrees in English and History from Alfred University (B.A., 1984) and a Master’s in History from the University of Rochester (1995), plus a certificate in political ideologies from Exeter College, Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar finalist), Dolan’s background shapes his trademark approach: source-driven, contextual, and focused on the interface between anomalous aerial phenomena and national security. He lives in Rochester, New York.
UTP angle: Dolan’s work is essential reading if you track the institutional handling of UAP, the historical record behind “modern disclosure,” and the social implications of contact. Below is a curated, long-form guide to his books, key ideas, lesser-known details, and a timeline to situate his contributions.
Quick Links
- Richard Dolan’s site and media hub: Richard Dolan Members and Richard Dolan Press
- Interview archives and appearances: check YouTube channel Richard Dolan
- Publisher of first book (republished): Hampton Roads Publishing
Why Dolan Matters
- Historical rigor: Dolan’s two-volume “UFOs and the National Security State” is among the most detailed chronologies of U.S. military, intelligence, and government interactions with UFOs/UAP from 1941 through 1991. The work is heavy on documentation, FOIA pulls, and contemporaneous reporting—less about belief, more about record.
- Policy focus: He treats UAP as an intelligence-nexus problem: airspace violations, sensor anomalies, crisis communications, and secrecy protocols—decades before the Pentagon normalized “UAP.”
- Social implications: With Bryce Zabel, Dolan co-authored “A.D. After Disclosure,” an exploration of how contact or formal acknowledgment could reshape media, religion, markets, law, and geopolitics.
Core Books by Richard M. Dolan
UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-Up, 1941–1973 (2000; republished 2002)
- Preface by Jacques Vallée, Ph.D., opening with: “The important book you are about to read is the first comprehensive study of the U.S. government's response to the intrusion of UFO phenomena in American skies over the last fifty years.”
- Focus: The wartime period through the end of the Vietnam era—Foo Fighters, early intelligence memos, Project Sign/Grudge/Blue Book dynamics, radar-visual cases, the Robertson Panel, and the emergence of a classification regime around UAP.
UFOs and the National Security State: The Cover-Up Exposed, 1973–1991 (2009)
- Focus: Post-Blue Book era, wave phenomena (mid-70s through Gulf Breeze era), NORAD and missile-related incidents, the rise of advanced aerospace programs, and media treatment during the late Cold War.
A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact (2010) — with Bryce Zabel
- Focus: Scenario analysis of a post-disclosure world, from governance and intelligence to culture and markets. It’s not prophecy—it’s structured speculation informed by patterns in secrecy, stigma, and statecraft.
Additional Dolan titles and edited/press works to explore:
- UFOs for the 21st Century Mind (often recommended as an entry point for newcomers)
- AD: After Disclosure (Updated/related essays and interviews on his channels)
- Richard Dolan Press also publishes adjacent authors and topics—useful for triangulating perspectives. See catalog at Richard Dolan Press.
Note: Availability and editions vary; cross-check ISBNs on publisher pages, author site, or major booksellers for the latest printings.
Obscure and Under-Discussed Angles
- Early academic path: Dolan’s advanced study in political ideologies (Exeter College, Oxford) often goes overlooked but helps explain his framing of secrecy as a policy instrument—not a monolith, but a shifting coalition of interests, authorities, and procedures across decades.
- Document interpretation methodology: Dolan is careful about “provenance first.” He often situates a memo or report in a bureaucratic lineage, asking who wrote it, why, and how it moved. This alone filters out many apocryphal claims common in ufology.
- Media literacy in ufology: Dolan has repeatedly warned about conflating viral narrative momentum with evidentiary momentum. He pushes for “source stacks” (documents, transcripts, sensor tracks) over single-source claims.
- Cross-domain awareness: Dolan frequently flags the overlap with aerospace development, EW/ISR, and compartmentalization. Whether you agree or not with specific conclusions, the model nudges analysts to consider black programs, special access criteria, and international intelligence equities.
Timeline: Richard M. Dolan — Life, Works, and Milestones
- 1960s–1970s: Born in Brooklyn; raised in Brentwood, Long Island.
- 1984: B.A. in English and History, Alfred University.
- 1990s: Graduate work; M.A. in History, University of Rochester (1995). Rhodes Scholarship finalist; certificate in political ideologies, Exeter College, Oxford.
- 2000: Publishes UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-Up, 1941–1973 (Keyhole Publishing; republished by Hampton Roads in 2002). Preface by Jacques Vallée.
- 2009: Publishes UFOs and the National Security State: The Cover-Up Exposed, 1973–1991.
- 2010: Co-authors A.D. After Disclosure with Bryce Zabel (November).
- 2010s–present: Expands media footprint—interviews, conferences, and his own platforms. Launches Richard Dolan Members and Richard Dolan Press for research, premium content, and independent publishing.
- Today: Based in Rochester, New York; continues writing, podcasting, and commentary on UAP policy, history, and disclosure dynamics.
The Dolan Book List (Starter-to-Advanced)
Beginner/Survey
- UFOs for the 21st Century Mind (broad overview; clear framing for newcomers)
- A.D. After Disclosure (with Bryce Zabel) — societal implications lens
Historical/Analytical
- UFOs and the National Security State, Vol. 1: 1941–1973
- UFOs and the National Security State, Vol. 2: 1973–1991
- Supplement with interviews and long-form talks on his YouTube channel: RichardMDolan
Relevance to Today’s UAP Debate
- Institutional memory: Dolan’s chronologies demonstrate that “new” UAP conversations often recapitulate older patterns—sensor incidents, air safety risks, and information compartmentalization—suggesting the problem is persistent, not episodic.
- Policy context: As legislative inquiries, whistleblower protections, and sensor-sharing regimes evolve, Dolan’s focus on documentation and bureaucratic process helps separate signal from noise.
- Media ecosystem: The push-pull between disclosure advocates, defense equities, and journalistic standards mirrors dynamics Dolan mapped in earlier decades.
Critiques and How to Read Him Well
- Scope vs. certainty: Dolan covers vast ground; treat his work as a curated map of the record rather than a final verdict on any single incident. Follow the footnotes, find the originals where possible.
- Scenario planning in A.D.: The book explores possibilities; it’s best read as structured foresight, not prediction. Use it to surface blind spots in institutions and culture.
Practical UTP Takeaways
- Build your own source stack: For any claim, chase primary documents, transcripts, and sensor data. Archive links. Note provenance.
- Track the bureaucracy: Ask which office owned the data, who had tasking authority, and how incidents were routed.
- Separate narrative momentum from evidentiary momentum: Virality ≠ veracity.
- Study the past to forecast the next move: Disclosure dynamics tend to iterate—public statements, denials, constrained admissions, incremental normalization.
Conclusion
Richard M. Dolan’s enduring contribution is methodological: treat UAP as a historical and policy problem that can be studied with documents, timelines, and institutional analysis. Agree or disagree with specific interpretations, his work invites a more disciplined conversation—one that respects witnesses, demands records, and keeps the focus on air safety, intelligence, and societal impact. For UTP readers, Dolan remains a high-value node in the network of credible UAP inquiry: read him, challenge him, and use the record he’s compiled to sharpen your own analysis.
References and Links
- Author hub: Richard Dolan Members
- Publishing arm: Richard Dolan Press
- YouTube channel: RichardMDolan
- Publisher (republished Vol. 1): Hampton Roads Publishing
Video:
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