“Francis Ridge was greater than an investigator—he was a builder of methods, a guardian of knowledge integrity, and a visionary who believed that the mysteries of the sky deserved disciplined, instrument primarily based examine. His work spanned greater than six a long time, throughout which he elevated UFO analysis from anecdotal reporting to structured and measurable evaluation.”
| Francis ‘Fran’ Ridge was born on October 13, 1942 in Vincennes, Indiana and married Carolyn June (Partitions) Ridge. Collectively they raised a household of 4 kids and eight grandchildren and not less than 4 nice grandchildren.
The MADAR Mission, the Mutual UFO Community (MUFON), and the broader UFO analysis group honor the life and legacy of |
By Steve Foss |
Francis Lee Ridge, who handed away on January 20, 2026. His contributions reshaped the panorama of civilian UFO investigation and established a scientific basis that may information researchers for generations.
Francis Ridge was greater than an investigator—he was a builder of methods, a guardian of knowledge integrity, and a visionary who believed that the mysteries of the sky deserved disciplined, instrument primarily based examine. His work spanned greater than six a long time, throughout which he elevated UFO analysis from anecdotal reporting to structured and measurable evaluation.
Fran’s place assertion as quoted in his e-book CAP-POINT (2021): “There isn’t a doubt that almost all UFOs are literally IFOs. For the subset of occasions that can’t be defined, there’s a group of sightings that exhibit strong objects beneath clever management. I’m satisfied that these objects are any individual else’s craft. Though I can not show that the intelligence behind the phenomena is ET in nature, I contemplate the ETH to be the least unlikely. I additionally really feel that there’s a nuclear connection (or one which signifies a cause-and-effect relationship with critical world occasions that would result in a nuclear risk)”.
Because the creator and architect of MADAR (A number of Anomaly Detection and Automated Recording), Francis launched a revolutionary idea: that UFO occasions might be correlated with actual time environmental anomalies captured by a distributed community of sensors. What started as a single experimental station grew into a world system of synchronized nodes, every contributing to a unified scientific effort. His management, persistence, and technical perception remodeled MADAR into probably the most revered instrumentation tasks within the discipline. At current, greater than 350 nodes have been positioned world extensive.
*By way of the years:
1960-1971 – Headed a 7-man investigation staff in Indiana for the Nationwide Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, or NICAP. It was designated Indiana Unit 1.
1970 – Started work on a primary UFO detection system that he designed in 1960.
1971 – Carried out non-public UFO Geographical Distribution Analysis (GDR) in Villa Grove, Illinois, and laid groundwork for MADAR.
1972 – Accepted place of State-Part Director for MUFON. Continued geographical research of the 9-state space beneath GDR Mission.
1973 – Arrange analysis and investigation staff beneath MUFON which included the huge 1973 sighting wave (Flap), arrange “saucer grapevine” with scattered observers, police, sheriff, and state police, airport management tower and Civil Protection with a month-to-month bulletin and a broadcast phone quantity and media protection. Arrange UFO FILTER CENTER. Created the title MADAR for the improved detection machine, applied, operated and directed the MADAR Mission.
1986 – With the assistance of his first laptop, continued work on the database for GDR work which listed over 4,000 entries for the area protecting Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Grew to become Indiana’s MUFON State Director and FI for the Heart for UFO Research. Arrange SD’s skilled and examined 150 potential discipline investigators in Indian’s 92 counties. His Indian speedy deployment staff of about 30 investigated a whole lot of circumstances.
1994 – Printed first e-book on UFOs, “Regional Encounters: The (UFO) Filter Heart Recordsdata”. Was launched to the web, Dan Wilson and the Mission Blue Guide “gems”, and Jean Waskiewicz. Collectively the did critical work on essential UFO paperwork which have been positioned on the brand new web site known as NICAP InterLink.
1997 – At all times very all for Astronomy and the moon, created The Lunascan Mission. This was a critical examine of the moon and LTPs (Lunar Transient Phenomena) with an Earth-Primarily based Telescopic Imaging program to doc LTPs and “quick walkers”.
2003 – Arrange a undertaking with a particular staff to check and catalog nuclear connection circumstances. Web site was on-line and the Nuclear Connection Mission was born.
2006 – Advised a re-investigation of the “defined case”, the Mantell Incident. Inside two years the case had been upgraded to an “Unknown” and his staff’s report, “The Mantell Incident” The Anatomy of an Investigation / A 60-year-old cover-up” was launched.
2010 – A tremendous uncover! MADAR data for 1977 confirmed a correlation between MADAR-15 and the well-known WOW! Sign.
2011 – Created TCCM (Telescope & Crew Management Module”, the “Moon buggy” van, for learning the moon utilizing the newest imaging expertise.
2013 – After a well being scare, completed memoirs, did a screenplay on Roswell for his offspring, and created a lot wanted lunar farside charts just like the profitable Anonin’ Rukl Atlas of the Moon (nearside).
2014- MADAR-II kicked off with new expertise.
2016 Conceived of latest MADAR machine, MADAR-III Dataprobe, an inexpensive and miniaturized detection and knowledge recording system.
2016 – Paracelsus C. Ridge stumbled throughout a high-res Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter picture of what seems to be a set of artifical or modified buildings or uncommon pure options. The Lunascape staff of Ridge, Sirisena and Carlotto produced studies and submitted their findings to NASA and EAS to analyze with a lander on the lunar far facet.
2018 – MADAR-III world-wide system went operational in Could with 22 websites within the US (largely). Inside 3 months there have been 140 operational websites.
2021 – Printed “CAP-POINT / A collection of staggering occasions with world implications for everybody on planet earth.
2018 – Arrange Mission Match with MUFON, an alliance set as much as discover correlations utilizing MADAR knowledge and MUFON submitted circumstances.
Up to now, MADAR has confirmed to be the one UFO Detection Machine to measure and archive knowledge to be used in conducting investigations on previous occasions. Fran was actively engaged on new additions to the information assortment until his final day with us.
Inside MUFON, Francis was recognized for his unwavering dedication to accuracy, professionalism, and methodological rigor. He mentored investigators, collaborated throughout state and nationwide boundaries, and championed the concept that UFO analysis have to be grounded in verifiable proof. His colleagues keep in mind him as a gentle, principled determine whose quiet dedication impressed confidence and respect.
Francis Ridge leaves behind a legacy outlined by innovation, integrity, and a lifelong pursuit of fact. His work continues via the MADAR community, the investigators he skilled, and the numerous researchers who depend on the requirements he helped set up. His passing marks the tip of an period, however his affect stays deeply woven into the material of contemporary UFO investigation.
A Celebration of life shall be held on February seventh from 2:00 p.m. to six:00 p.m. at Lakeridge Crossing, 2144 Lakeridge Dr, Newburgh, Indiana. The household appreciates the ideas, prayers, and cherished reminiscences shared in his honor. In lieu of flowers, the household asks that you just contemplate a donation to the American Coronary heart Affiliation.
It has been my honor to know and to help Fran with the MADAR Mission for 2 years. I remorse that I didn’t spend extra time conversing with Fran, as each second with him was a private expertise, not simply dialog or enterprise. He introduced power and humor all the time. It was apparent to all who knew him of the deep love he as for his household. He shall be profoundly missed—and all the time remembered.
—Steve Foss
MADAR Mission, Continuity Specialist
MUFON Florida, Chief Investigator
MUFON ERT
MUFON, Regional Director, Center East
