When considering which NGOs currently have the potential to be seriously established—or at least strategically brought onto the stage—as a counterweight to AARO, these are the candidates I see. Have I overlooked anyone? I put this together quickly as a rough sketch to get a better overview, without going into deep or exhaustive research. It should also be noted that Rep. Luna specifically mentions only one organization. Whether she means that literally, or whether she even has an overview of which known figures belong to which organization, remains an open question.
A small, tightly knit network has formed around independent UAP research in the US. The Sol Foundation seems to act as the strongest strategic hub: Garry Nolan and Peter Skafish are the central figures here, flanked by individuals like Karl Nell and Eric Davis, who provide the bridge to military, intelligence, and congressional circles. Karl Nell's recent shift away from the Disclosure Foundation's board to focus his efforts on the Sol Foundation's high-level policy work is a key indicator of this strategic consolidation.
Regarding David Grusch and the Sol Foundation, the status is somewhat unclear: he was initially listed in the leadership but has not appeared there officially for some time. Whether this was a formal separation or an attempt to keep him (or the foundation) out of the line of fire remains unclear. However, it seems the foundation continues to use his work as a key substantive anchor for its briefings, maintaining a sort of "distanced connection" to him.
The SCU represents the more scientific-critical track. Rather than highlighting individual "stars," it relies on a circle of researchers like Robert Powell, Kevin Knuth, and Matthew Szydagis. They consistently challenge AARO's methodology through analysis and peer-reviewed publications. The SCU feels like the most logical counterpoint to AARO because it targets the exact areas where AARO is frequently perceived as being too defensive or overly bureaucratic.
The Disclosure Foundation, formerly known as the UAP Disclosure Fund, serves as the third pillar in this ecosystem, acting as the political and lobbying spearhead. While the Sol Foundation manages strategy and the SCU handles the science, the Disclosure Foundation, if I interpret this correctly, focuses on the legal and grassroots efforts to push for legislative change. Its influence is significant in the political arena, complementing the other two organizations by driving the actual policy pressure on Congress.
UAPx—or rather its academic evolution into "Project X" at the University at Albany—is somehow different: focused on instrumentation and field research rather than the political stage. While important, it is likely less visible as a direct counter-force to AARO than the Sol Foundation or the SCU.
If you are asking which entity serves as a "serious" external reference point for lawmakers like Rep. Luna, I would rank them as follows: first the Sol Foundation, then the SCU, followed by the Disclosure Foundation, and finally UAPx/Albany. The Sol Foundation is best anchored in terms of politics and networking, the SCU is most clearly positioned as the professional scientific adversary to AARO, and the Disclosure Foundation is the primary engine for political lobbying.
Bottom line: If the goal is to identify an ideological and organizational counter-force to AARO, the SCU is, in my view, the most likely candidate. If the goal is networking regarding Congress, disclosure, and strategic framing, the Sol Foundation and the Disclosure Foundation are equally important—perhaps even more so. UAPx is scientifically intriguing, but significantly less influential on the public stage.
