Dennis Balthaser

Background

Dennis Balthaser spent 33 years as a civil engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation before redirecting his career toward UFO research. After serving three years (1959–1962) in the U.S. Army's 815th Engineering Battalion, he maintained a dual-track career until his retirement in 1996 at age 57, after which he moved directly to Roswell, New Mexico, with the specific aim of investigating the 1947 UFO incident.

Museum Work & Roswell Tours

Upon arriving in Roswell, Balthaser volunteered with the International UFO Museum and Research Center, serving as the museum's UFO Investigator from 1996 to 1998. He then transitioned to independent research and founded Roswell UFO Tours, offering guided two-hour automotive tours highlighting 20 locations tied to the 1947 incident. These tours operated daily (five days weekly) for approximately seven years and became a landmark in the community, cementing Balthaser's role as a leading local UFO researcher.

Research & Credentials

Balthaser became a Certified Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) Field Investigator in 1999, elevating his standing within organized ufology. His 30+ years of primary research focused on the Roswell Incident, supplemented by investigations into Area 51, underground military bases, and the Egyptian pyramids at Giza. He interviewed original witnesses and key figures, notably James Bond Johnson, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram photographer who documented the debris in General Ramey's office in July 1947.

Balthaser cultivated relationships with renowned researchers including Stanton Friedman, Donald R. Schmitt, Wendy Connors, and Derrel Sims. Over his research career, he participated in more than 350 television, radio, and media interviews, authored editorials for the Roswell Daily Record, and produced audio content on UFOs and underground bases. His library contains over 100 reference works on ufology.

Legacy & Retirement

Balthaser retired from active tour operations in 2020 but remained affiliated with the International UFO Museum, continuing his involvement in the ongoing quest for transparency about Roswell. His work exemplifies the professional investigator model within civilian UFO research—a trained engineer applying systematic methodology to historical documentation and witness testimony.