Elizondo refers to his October 2017 resignation as “the most open secret in the history of the Pentagon” (200). He wrote a conventional resignation letter, as well as a second letter intended specifically for Mattis, in which he referred to the “bureaucratic challenges and inflexible mindsets” that were keeping a serious threat secret (201). Shortly after he left the building, his former boss, Garry Reid, demanded an explanation. He threatened Elizondo’s reputation and said that the resignation letter would not reach Mattis. Elizondo ignored the threats, focusing on his immediate plan.

Elizondo met with a journalist named Leslie Kean, introduced to him by Mellon. She had written about UAP in the past, and Elizondo walked her through his research over the course of four hours. He did not mention anything classified. Kean was receptive and optimistic. Next, Elizondo thought about his career options. He needed money, so he accepted an offer from To the Stars Academy (TTSA), a private UAP research group set up by Blink-182 musician Tom DeLonge. Elizondo met with DeLonge and accepted a job with TTSA, though he and Jennifer would need to move across the country. He took a position as the chief of security and special programs for TTSA, based in California.