André Carson

Background and Path to Congress

André Carson was born on October 16, 1974, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and represents the state's 7th Congressional District. Initially raised in the Baptist faith, Carson converted to Islam at age 16 or 17, inspired by Muslim community members who were visibly engaged in neighborhood safety and crime prevention on Indianapolis's east side. He worked as a law enforcement officer for the Indiana State Excise Police from 1996 to 2005, where he built expertise in security and criminal justice.

Carson was elected to Congress in a special election in March 2008, succeeding his grandmother Julia Carson, who had represented the district since 1997. His election made him the second Muslim member of Congress, a distinction that shaped his advocacy for vulnerable populations and his commitment to civil rights and equal protection under the law. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University-Wisconsin and a Master's in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

House Intelligence Committee Leadership

As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Carson rose to chair the subcommittee on counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and counter proliferation. In this role, he took direct oversight of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) investigations and government transparency efforts. His law enforcement background informed his skepticism of bureaucratic gatekeeping, particularly around national security issues that lacked public accountability.

Carson became convinced that stigma surrounding UFO/UAP reports had prevented serious scientific and military analysis for decades. He framed UAP oversight as a matter of national security competence: proper investigation requires removing disincentives for pilots, military officers, and civilians to report anomalous observations.

The May 2022 UAP Hearing and Destigmatization

In May 2022, Carson chaired the first congressional hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena in over 50 years. The hearing featured military pilots and intelligence officials testifying openly about UAP encounters and the need for systematic investigation. Carson articulated a clear position: "UAPs are unexplained, it's true. But they are real. They need to be investigated."

Carson stated the central problem bluntly: "For too long, the stigma associated with UAPs has gotten in the way of good, intelligent analysis." He emphasized that the Department of Defense needed a cultural shift to treat UAPs as serious national security matters, not career-damaging topics. The public hearing was designed to "help destigmatize UAP reporting" and send a signal that the government was taking these phenomena seriously.

The strategy worked measurably. Carson noted that increased public awareness from the hearing led to a spike in UAP reports, ensuring the U.S. government had more complete information on potential national security issues. Visibility and legitimacy, he argued, directly improve intelligence collection.

National Security and Transparency Stance

Carson consistently framed UAP transparency as a national security imperative, not a fringe interest. His statement that "Unidentified aerial phenomena are a potential national security threat and they need to be treated that way" reflected both realism about unknown flight capabilities and skepticism of the assumption that stigma and secrecy serve protective purposes. He advocated for transparency partly because hidden knowledge prevents rigorous threat assessment.

Following the 2022 hearing, additional congressional hearings on UAP transparency and whistleblower protection were organized with Carson's continued involvement. These sessions addressed military whistleblowers who had come forward with UAP evidence and the legal protections they needed to testify without career reprisal.

2026 Recognition and Legacy

In 2026, Carson was honored by the Disclosure Foundation alongside fellow UAP disclosure advocates Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, and Anna Paulina Luna for sustained work on transparency and government accountability. The recognition reflected his role as one of Congress's most consistent voices calling for rigorous investigation and public access to UAP information.

Carson represents a rare alignment in American politics: a law enforcement background combined with skepticism of institutional secrecy. His approach to UAP oversight emphasized that transparency and rigor are compatible with national security, and that stigma—not knowledge—is the threat.