Dr. Harold E. Puthoff

Harold E. “Hal” Puthoff is an American physicist and engineer who played a pivotal role in the development and study of remote viewing. Puthoff’s career has spanned various fields, including laser technology, quantum physics, and parapsychology.

In connection with remote viewing, Harold Puthoff’s name is usually mentioned together with Ingo Swann and Russell Targ. Together with Ingo Swann, he carried out the first experiments at SRI-International in mid-1972, which paved the way for the subsequent more than 20 years of research on remote viewing. The research at the SRI aroused the interest of the US secret service CIA, whereupon a program to study human consciousness was founded at the institute. Together with Russell Targ, Puthoff created and directed the program, which experimented with many types of ESP and psychokinesis, with a particular focus on the ESP-based remote viewing ability.

An experiment Puthoff conducted with Ingo Swann in June, 1972 attracted the interest of the Central Intelligence Agency and led to Puthoff’s founding of SRI-International’s human consciousness research program. Subsequently joined by Russell Targ, Puthoff created and lead the program, which experimented with many varieties of ESP and psychokinesis, focusing particularly on the ESP-based skill known as remote viewing. Under contract to the CIA and later the Defense Department, Puthoff and his team tested the parameters of the remote viewing phenomenon. At the direction of the US Army he and Swann created a novel training program to teach US military personnel remote viewing skills they then used to conduct espionage missions against the Soviet Union and other foreign threats. In 1985 Puthoff left the remote viewing program to become director of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin.

— excerpt from Hal Puthoff’s bio at Remote Viewing Instructional Services (RVIS, Inc.) website

For the US Army, Puthoff and Swann developed the first training program—CRV—to teach US military personnel the ability to remote viewing, which they then use on espionage missions against the Soviet Union and other foreign threats.

Dr. Puthoff, who graduated from Stanford University in 1967, has more than four decades of research in a variety of fields. He has published numerous papers on electron beam devices, lasers and quantum zero point energy effects, holds patents in the fields of lasers, communications and energy. His current research interests range from theoretical studies on gravity, inertia, cosmology and energy research to laboratory studies on innovative approaches to energy generation and space propulsion.

Harold E. Puthoff holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, which he earned from Stanford University in 1967, focusing on tunable lasers and electron beam devices. His doctoral thesis was titled “The stimulated Raman effect and its application as a tunable laser”. He co-authored the book “Fundamentals of Quantum Electronics” in 1969, which has been translated into multiple languages.

In 1985, Puthoff left the remote viewing program to become director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Austin. He has since served regularly for corporations, government agencies, the executive branch and Congress as an advisor on cutting-edge technology and future technology trends.

RV timeline:

  • 1972: Initiated the SRI program, marking the beginning of government-funded remote viewing research.
  • 1973: Conducted the first successful series of experiments with Ingo Swann, demonstrating the potential of coordinate remote viewing.
  • 1974: Began working with Pat Price, whose sessions included the famous “West Virginia Site” viewing.
  • 1975: Co-authored the “IEEE” paper with Russell Targ, introducing remote viewing to the scientific community.
  • 1976: Oversaw the “Kerr-McGee” uranium site experiment with Pat Price, considered one of the most evidential in RV history.
  • 1977: Published “Mind Reach” with Russell Targ, bringing remote viewing to public attention.
  • 1979: Contributed to the development of the CRV (Controlled Remote Viewing) protocol with Ingo Swann.
  • 1985: Transitioned leadership of the program to Edwin May, while continuing as a consultant.
  • 1995: Publicly discussed the program after its declassification, contributing to the broader understanding of remote viewing’s history.

Puthoff’s work laid the foundation for many protocols and practices still used by remote viewers today. His research spanned over two decades, influencing both government applications and civilian interest in remote viewing.

 

Work in research

More than 4 decades of research

  • General Electric
  • Sperry
  • National Security Agency
  • Stanford University
  • SRI International
  • Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Austin (since 1985)

Awards, honors

  • American Men and Women of Science
  • Who’s Who in Science and Engineering
  • Who’s Who in the World
  • Appointment as a Fetzer Fellow
  • Co-author of the textbook Fundamentals of Quantum Electronics (Wiley, 1969)
  • DoD Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Performance

Puthoff’s military and intelligence background

  • Following MSEE, U of FL, entered service as Ltjg, USNR (1960)
  • Naval Security Group HQ Activity (Nebraska Ave.)
  • NSA, Ft. Meade
  • Converted from Lt., USNR, to GS-13 (1963)
  • Resigned NSA, 1964
  • Graduated Stanford 1967, Post-doc app’t until 1972
  • joined SRI, early 1972

The famous historic photo of Russell Targ and Hal Puthoff in front of SRI’s front door­—recreated in 2022.
(left photo: Hella Hammid, right photo: Paul H. Smith, based on an idea by Judy Chadderdon)

 


Further information:

  • ResearchGate (Scientific publications)
  • Earthtech (Founder, President & CEO)
    The Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin was founded in 1985 and later incorporated under EarthTech International, Inc. in 1991 as an innovative research facility with a high-powered creative staff dedicated to exploring the forefront reaches of science and engineering. ETI and IASA are engaged in many collaborations with industry, the US government, scientific research foundations, and academia in order to implement the organization’s mission: Shaping the future by innovating breakthroughs that inspire new modes of space transportation and new sources of energy.
  • Quantcomm LLC (Defense & Space)
    Quantcomm is a spin-off startup of parent company EarthTech International, Inc that aims to surpass the limitations of standard EM communications through fundamental scientific advancement.