Former US Air Force General Linked to UFO Research Vanishes in New Mexico
The disappearance of a retired U.S. Air Force general with connections to UFO research has sparked concern and a widespread search effort in New Mexico. William Neil McCasland, aged 68, was last seen around 11 a.m. local time on Friday near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation.
McCasland's wife reported that he left home without his watch or phone, an unusual occurrence for the experienced outdoorsman known for his passion for hiking and skiing. The sheriff's office has issued a silver alert, indicating heightened concern due to an unspecified medical condition he suffers from.
Search Efforts and Public Appeals
Sheriff John Allen emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Our priority is finding Mr McCasland safely. Our investigators and search teams are working continuously, and we're coordinating closely with our local, state, and federal partners." Authorities are urging the public to check and preserve any security camera footage from the area and report any information immediately.
One potential sighting has been reported by a woman in the Albuquerque Trail Running Crew's Facebook group, who claimed to have seen someone matching McCasland's description on the Whitewash trailhead in Piedra Lisa Canyon. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office is following up on this lead as part of their ongoing efforts.
Background in UFO Research and Military Service
Before retiring from service in 2013 and entering the private sector, McCasland held significant positions in the Air Force. He led both the Kirtland base's Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. In this role, he managed the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program, along with publicly funded research initiatives.
Wright-Patterson is renowned among UFO enthusiasts as the site where debris from the 1947 Roswell incident in New Mexico was analyzed. Official reports attribute the material to Project Mogul balloons, designed to detect Soviet atomic bomb detonations, rather than extraterrestrial origins. The base also housed Project Blue Book in the 1950s and 60s, which documented over 12,000 alleged UFO sightings, with 701 cases remaining unidentified.
Connections to UFO Disclosure Efforts
McCasland's name gained prominence in UFO circles after appearing in emails published by WikiLeaks in 2016, taken from John Podesta, then campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In these correspondences, Tom DeLonge, frontman of the pop-punk band Blink-182, claimed that McCasland advised him on disclosure practices and helped establish his company, To The Stars Inc., which focuses on extraterrestrial matters.
McCasland has never publicly confirmed or denied his involvement in DeLonge's UFO research, adding an element of mystery to his disappearance. Colonel Justin Secrest, base commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, where McCasland previously served, expressed support, saying, "We are coordinating closely with local authorities and defer all updates regarding the search efforts to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."
The search continues as authorities and the community remain hopeful for McCasland's safe return, with his background in sensitive military and UFO research adding intrigue to the case.
