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Quintanilla headed Project Blue Book from 1963 until its closure in 1970. Project Blue Book began in 1952; the Air Force announced Project Blue Book's closing on December 17, 1969, with its final day of operation on January 30, 1970. Quintanilla succeeded Lieutenant Colonel Robert Friend. He was selected to be the next Project Blue Book Officer by Colonel Eric T. de Jonckheere, who explained to Quintanilla that he was looking to fill the position with a man with a degree in physics, with maturity, drive, and a man who was cool under pressure; Quintanilla shook his head and felt he only met the physics degree requirement. Colonel Joncheere told Quintanilla to take the job for a few weeks and report back to him. Quintanilla felt he was offered the job due to his reluctance to take several other job offers in the escalating Vietnam War. Project Blue Book left a legacy of over 12,000 reported UFOs investigated of which 30 percent or over 4,000 cases, were classified as unknown.