Editing Richard Doty

[[File:Rick Doty.jpg|thumb|Special Agent Richard Doty, AFOSI. A key figure in the legacy disinfo programs, now a broad advocate for UAP disclosure and transparency.]]
Richard Doty is one of the most controversial figures in the history of UFOlogy. Doty had a 20-year career with the Air Force, including years as a special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).  During that time, he was assigned to conduct surveillance on a scientist, [[Paul Bennewitz]], who had inadvertently acquired information about a classified Air Force program. Doty admits he fed [[Men In Black|disinformation]] to Bennewitz and to other UFO researchers. forged documents, and muddied the waters.<ref>[https://www.mysterywire.com/ufo/spying-disinformation-accusations-follow-ufo-figure-rick-doty-an-exclusive-interview/]Spying, disinformation accusations follow UFO figure Rick Doty — an exclusive interview (Mystery Wire)</ref>

Since leaving military service, Doty worked as a police officer and has been the subject of numerous articles and documentaries.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/exair-force-law-enforceme_b_5312650]Ex-Air Force Law Enforcement Agent Says He Hoaxed Major UFO Mythologies (Huff Post)</ref>

== Mirage Men (Documentary film) ==
Rick is probably most well known for the role he played in the 1970's and 1980's, when he was directed to orchestrate an [[Men In Black|information war]] against the broader UFO research community. These activities were carried out through [[Paul Bennewitz]], [[William Moore|Bill Moore]], [[Aerial Phenomenon Research Group (APRO)|APRO]] and others. The 2013 film ''[[Mirage Men (documentary)|Mirage Men]]'' documents these events.

== Other Controversies ==

=== Linda Moulton Howe ===
Doty is alleged to have provided journalist and UFO investigator [[Linda Moulton Howe]] with disinformation during her investigation of the [[Cattle Mutilation|cattle multilation]] phenomenon. Moulton Howe, for her part, published a story based on this information which Doty then used to discredit her overall message. It was during this time she produced her film, ''[[A Strange Harvest (documentary)|A Strange Harvest]]'', and introduced the world to the mysterious circumstances surrounding many of these incidents.

=== Raid on Bob Lazar ===
Although no longer working on behalf of the AFOSI, Doty was involved in a raid on whistleblower [[Bob Lazar]] while serving as a sworn member of the N.M. State Police.

=== SERPO.org Story ===
In the early 2000's, an elaborate series of stories about a supposed [[Serpo|Project Serpo]] were loosely associated to Doty by researchers using headers discovered in e-mails.

== UFO Disclosure ==
Richard Doty is now a private citizen that advocates for broad UAP disclosure.

== References ==

[[Category:United States Air Force personnel]]