David Marler

David Marler is a contemporary UFO researcher and archival curator whose work spans formal investigation, historical documentation, and comprehensive analysis of UFO phenomena. With credentials in psychology and medical technology, he brought a methodical, evidence-based approach to UFO research during the institutional professionalization of the field in the 1990s and 2000s.

Background & Education

Marler received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE). Beyond his primary education, he obtained certification as a hypnotherapist from the Mottin and Johnson Institute of Hypnosis in St. Louis, Missouri, and became a Registered Polysomnographic Technician (RPSGT), working for several years at a major St. Louis-based medical facility diagnosing and treating patients with sleep disorders. This dual background in psychology and medical science positioned him to approach UFO witness testimony with both analytical rigor and sensitivity to perceptual phenomena.

MUFON Investigator & UFO Research

Marler joined The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) in 1990 as a Field Investigator Trainee and progressively advanced through the organization as Field Investigator and State Section Director before serving as Illinois State Director. During his tenure, he conducted investigations into numerous cases, including a dramatic incident east of St. Louis where multiple police officers reported witnessing a triangular-shaped UFO near an air force base—a sighting that paralleled earlier reports from Belgium. His investigative work combined documentary analysis, witness interviews, and comparative case study methods, contributing to MUFON's institutional approach to standardized UFO investigation.

Triangular UFO Research & Publications

Marler's most significant published contribution is Triangular UFOs: An Estimate of the Situation (2013), a comprehensive analysis of triangular-shaped UFO sightings. The book features forewords from respected researchers including John B. Alexander, Richard M. Dolan, Mark Rodeghier, and George Wingfield—lending credibility across multiple research perspectives. In the work, Marler synthesizes hundreds of reports spanning decades, providing both historical narrative and analytical framework for understanding the triangular UFO phenomenon. His approach combined archival research, pattern analysis, and witness documentation, treating the category not as proof of extraterrestrial visitation but as a significant pattern within the historical UFO record requiring serious attention.

Marler maintains one of the world's largest personal libraries of UFO literature, spanning over a century of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, case files, government documents, microfilm, photographs, audio and video recordings, and historical materials from deceased researchers. This collection became the foundation for his archival work.

The National UFO Historical Records Center

In November 2020, Marler assumed the role of curator for what is recognized as the world's single largest historical collection of UFO case files. This archive includes the historic NICAP case files, the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) collection, and J. Allen Hynek's original Project Blue Book investigative files—materials foundational to modern UFO research. His appointment to this position resulted in an invitation to serve on the CUFOS Board as its official Archivist, recognizing his expertise in documentation preservation.

Building on this curatorial work, in 2022 Marler established the National UFO Historical Records Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The center functions as the most comprehensive institutional repository for UFO and UAP information within the United States, dedicated to safeguarding historical documentation, making materials accessible to researchers, and ensuring that decades of investigative work and witness testimony are preserved for future scholarship.

Marler's archival mission reflects a conviction that serious UFO research requires institutional infrastructure—professional standards for evidence preservation, organized cataloging, and long-term stewardship of historical materials. His work with CUFOS, NICAP archives, and the Project Blue Book files established him as a bridge between historical UFO investigation and contemporary UAP research, ensuring that earlier institutional work remains available and credible.

Recognition & Media Presence

Marler received the 2016 Lucius O. Farish Award for Excellence in UFO-related Research and Education, recognizing his contributions to the field. He has collaborated with major media productions including the History Channel, Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, and Gaia on UFO documentary work. He has appeared on Coast to Coast AM, at the UFO Congress, and in publications such as OpenMinds.tv, bringing his archival expertise and triangular UFO research to mainstream audiences.