Dan Wright was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and earned an M.A. in political affairs from the University of Illinois. Following a career as a researcher and technical writer for the State of Michigan, he retired to Athens, Georgia. He joined the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) in 1978 and thereafter served variously on its staff and board of directors. As deputy director he oversaw thousands of UFO investigations across North America. For five years he conducted a MUFON project to transcribe and analyze regressive hypnosis sessions related to possible alien abductions.