Jerry E. Smith

Career Overview

Jerry E. Smith (1950–2010) was an influential American writer, lecturer, and UFO researcher who contributed significantly to paranormal and conspiracy research communities. His professional writing career began in 1969 with his first published piece, establishing himself as a prolific voice across UFO and fringe science domains.

National UFO Museum

In 1991, Smith co-founded the National UFO Museum (NUFOM) in Reno, Nevada, with author Jim Keith. As Executive Director from 1991–1994, Smith managed daily operations and edited the organization's quarterly journal, Notes from the Hangar, positioning NUFOM as a serious repository for UFO sightings and research during the 1990s. After Keith's death in 1999, Smith continued editorial work on Dharma Combat: The Magazine of Spirituality, Reality and Other Conspiracies, blending paranormal research with philosophical inquiry.

HAARP Research and Conspiracy Theory

Smith achieved widespread recognition for his 1998 bestseller HAARP: The Ultimate Weapon of the Conspiracy, which examined claims that the U.S. military's High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program was capable of weather modification, mind control, and environmental manipulation. The book deliberately blurred lines between documented fact and speculative theory—a approach critics viewed as unscientific but supporters praised as comprehensive and provocative. HAARP became influential in conspiracy circles and established Smith as a key figure linking UFO research with electromagnetic and military-industrial concerns.

Broader Publications

Smith's bibliography expanded to include Weather Warfare: The Military's Plan to Draft Mother Nature (2006), a history of weather modification research and deployment, and Secrets of the Holy Lance: The Spear of Destiny in History & Legend (2005), exploring occult and esoteric dimensions of historical artifacts. His work consistently positioned fringe subjects—UFOs, weather control, Nazi occultism—within a framework of hidden technological and governmental knowledge.

Media and Legacy

Smith appeared frequently on Coast to Coast AM, reaching millions of listeners interested in paranormal phenomena and alternative history. He died in 2010 after a battle with cancer that had slowed his output in 2009, leaving behind a body of work that remained influential in UFO and conspiracy research communities, particularly in bridging UFO sightings with theories of advanced military technology.