David Fravor is a retired U.S. Navy Commander and decorated combat pilot who became one of the most credible witnesses to the UAP phenomenon after his 2004 encounter with what has come to be known as the “Tic Tac” object. A 24-year naval veteran, TOPGUN graduate, and former commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), Fravor testified under oath before the U.S. House of Representatives on July 26, 2023, describing an encounter he says defied the performance envelope of any known aircraft — then or now.
Biography & Background
David Fravor grew up in Ohio and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17. After two years of enlisted service he transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, fulfilling a long-held goal of flying off aircraft carriers. Over a 24-year military career — 18 of them as a naval jet pilot — he flew multiple combat tours, including sorties during Operation Desert Storm and four subsequent deployments to the Persian Gulf.
Fravor is a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s elite TOPGUN program and rose to command Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), the “Black Aces,” flying F/A-18F Super Hornets as part of Carrier Air Wing 11 aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68). He commanded VFA-41 from October 15, 2004 to January 6, 2006 — a tenure that encompassed the now-famous UAP encounter in November 2004.
Fravor retired from the U.S. Navy in 2006. Following his military career, he worked as a simulator instructor for Fidelity Technologies, training new F/A-18 Hornet pilots. He also appeared as himself in the 2008 PBS documentary series Carrier.
The USS Nimitz Encounter (November 14, 2004)
On November 14, 2004, Fravor was flying approximately 100 miles southwest of San Diego when the USS Princeton — the strike group’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser — reported unusual radar contacts. The ship’s AN/SPY-1 radar had been tracking objects descending from approximately 80,000 feet to just above sea level for roughly two weeks. Fravor and his wingman, Lieutenant Commander Jim Slaight, were diverted from a routine training exercise to investigate.
What Fravor encountered was a white, oval, “Tic Tac”-shaped object approximately 40 feet in length with no visible wings, rotors, exhaust plumes, or control surfaces. The object was hovering just above the ocean surface over a patch of disturbed white water, oscillating erratically against the wind.
When Fravor attempted to intercept the object by spiraling his F/A-18F toward it, the UAP mirrored his movements — then accelerated away instantaneously. The USS Princeton reacquired the object approximately 60 miles from the original intercept position in under a minute, implying velocities with no known aerodynamic explanation. The entire visual encounter lasted approximately five minutes.
Shortly after Fravor’s encounter, Lieutenant Commander Chad Underwood — flying a second F/A-18F — recorded the object on the aircraft’s AN/AAQ-28 LITENING infrared targeting pod. That footage, known as the FLIR1 video, was published by The New York Times on December 16, 2017, alongside the disclosure of AATIP, the Pentagon’s secret UAP research program.
Despite involving multiple witnesses and captured sensor data, the incident was never formally investigated. Fravor has testified that no one from his crew was ever interviewed by any government or military agency, and additional tapes from the engagement reportedly went missing. The encounter remained informal naval aviator lore until the 2017 New York Times story brought it into the public and congressional record.
Congressional Testimony (July 26, 2023)
On July 26, 2023, Fravor testified under oath before the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs alongside former intelligence officer David Grusch and fellow Navy pilot Ryan Graves. The hearing — titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency” — was the most significant congressional UAP hearing in decades.
In his opening statement, Fravor described the Tic Tac in precise, restrained terms: “We saw a small white Tic Tac-shaped object with the longitudinal axis pointing north/south and moving very abruptly over the white water.” On its performance, he was unambiguous: “The Tic Tac Object that we engaged in November 2004 was far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today, or are looking to develop in the next 10+ years.”
He also raised pointed questions about systemic failures: “What is shocking to us is that the incident was never investigated, none of my crew were ever questioned, tapes were never taken, and after a couple of days it turned into a great story with friends.” Fravor called for Congress to establish proper oversight and reporting mechanisms for UAP encounters by military personnel.
His full written statement to the committee is publicly available on the House Oversight Committee website.
Media Appearances & Public Advocacy
Fravor has been one of the most consistent and credible public voices on UAP since the 2017 disclosure. His account has remained essentially unchanged across years of interviews and two congressional testimonies — a degree of consistency unusual in a field prone to embellishment.
- 2008: Appeared as himself in the PBS documentary Carrier, about life aboard the USS Nimitz.
- October 5, 2019: Appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience #1361 alongside documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell — one of his most detailed public accounts of the Nimitz encounter.
- May 16, 2021: Featured on CBS 60 Minutes alongside Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich in a segment that brought the Nimitz encounter to a mass audience and helped establish UAPs as a mainstream national security issue.
- July 26, 2023: Testified before the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security in the most significant congressional UAP hearing in decades.
Unlike many in the UAP space, Fravor has consistently refused to speculate about the object’s origin or nature. His posture — disciplined, empirical, grounded in 24 years of combat aviation — has made him one of the most frequently cited witnesses in investigative journalism, government reports, and congressional testimony on UAP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did David Fravor see during the Nimitz incident?
Fravor observed a white, oval, “Tic Tac”-shaped object roughly 40 feet long hovering above the Pacific Ocean approximately 100 miles southwest of San Diego. It had no wings, rotors, or exhaust. When Fravor attempted to intercept it, the object accelerated instantaneously and was redetected 60 miles away in under a minute.
What is the FLIR1 video and who recorded it?
The FLIR1 video is infrared footage of the Tic Tac object recorded by Lieutenant Commander Chad Underwood shortly after Fravor’s visual encounter. The New York Times published the footage on December 16, 2017. It is one of three UAP videos officially acknowledged and released by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Did David Fravor testify before Congress?
Yes. Fravor testified under oath before the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security on July 26, 2023, alongside David Grusch and Ryan Graves. He described the Nimitz encounter and called for formal UAP oversight and reporting mechanisms.
Was the Nimitz incident ever officially investigated?
According to Fravor, it was not. He has stated that none of his crew were interviewed, no investigation was opened, and additional footage reportedly went missing. The incident only entered the official record after the 2017 New York Times disclosure — more than 13 years after it occurred.
What is David Fravor doing now?
Fravor retired from the U.S. Navy in 2006. After leaving the military he worked as a simulator instructor for Fidelity Technologies. Since the 2017 disclosure, he has become a prominent public advocate for UAP transparency, speaking at conferences, on podcasts, and before Congress.
Why is David Fravor considered a credible UAP witness?
Fravor’s credibility stems from his 24-year naval career, TOPGUN graduation, and record as commanding officer of VFA-41. His account has remained consistent across years of public statements and two congressional testimonies. He has also been disciplined about limiting claims to what he personally observed, avoiding speculation about origin or extraterrestrial hypotheses.
Who else witnessed the Tic Tac UAP encounter?
Multiple witnesses corroborated the encounter. Fravor’s wingman Lieutenant Commander Jim Slaight also observed the object. Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich, flying a separate aircraft, likewise saw it. Lieutenant Commander Chad Underwood recorded the FLIR1 infrared footage. Radar operators aboard the USS Princeton tracked the object for approximately two weeks prior to the visual sightings.