The inaugural boss of NASA's newly-created UFO research division has been named as a former meteorologist and liaison to the Pentagon. Mark McInerney will become the US space agency's director of research into unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), more commonly known as unidentified flying objects. NASA officials initially refused to reveal McInerney's identity amid fears he would be harassed, before later backtracking on the decision. Speaking about the new UFO boss following the release of the agency's highly-anticipated study into more than 800 UAP sightings, NASA's associate administrator Nicola Fox told reporters: 'They have been working there a while now, during the study, to help be a point of contact.' But when directly asked whether she could name the official, Fox replied: 'We will not give his name out.' Alien hunter: The inaugural boss of NASA's newly-created UFO research division has been named as former meteorologist and liaison to the Pentagon Mark McInerney (pictured) NASA officials initially refused to reveal McInerney's identity amid fears he would be harassed All changed hours later, however, when NASA sent out a press release that included McInerney's name and revealed he previously worked as the agency's liaison to the Pentagon.