A retired Air Force Major General with deep ties to classified aerospace research facilities has vanished without a trace in New Mexico, sparking a massive multi-agency search that now includes the FBI.
High-Profile Military Career Raises Questions
McCasland served a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1979 with a degree in astronautical engineering. He commanded the Phillips Research Site and Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, managing a $2.2 billion science and technology portfolio. His assignments included leadership roles at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the historic home of Project Blue Book, which investigated thousands of UFO reports between 1947 and 1969. This background has fueled speculation, though authorities maintain his disappearance appears medical-related.
🚨 **BREAKING: Man in charge of Roswell UFO at Wright Patterson AFB Goes Missing – Major General William Neil McCasland 🇺🇸🛸👽
With President Trump ready to sign an executive order to declassify all of the UAP files – this seems very suspicious.
Bernalillo County just put out a… pic.twitter.com/LJU3jCKlNB
— Interstellar (@InterstellarUAP) March 2, 2026
Search Efforts Intensify With Federal Involvement
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office issued a Silver Alert on February 28, one day after McCasland was last seen around 11 a.m. near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office confirmed its involvement in early March, stating it follows standard practice to assist local partners with specialized tools and tactics. Colonel Justin Secrest, commander of Kirtland Air Force Base’s 377th Air Base Wing, emphasized the military’s coordination with civilian authorities while expressing support for McCasland’s family. New Mexico Search and Rescue teams have deployed ground and air assets, yet no signs of the retired general have emerged.
Official Statements Counter Conspiracy Theories
Law enforcement officials have been clear about the nature of the investigation. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office stated there are no indications of kidnapping or criminal activity, treating this strictly as a missing person case under Silver Alert protocols designed for vulnerable adults with medical conditions. The FBI echoed this assessment, clarifying its role as supportive rather than indicative of foul play. These statements directly counter sensationalized media narratives attempting to link McCasland’s disappearance to his past oversight of facilities associated with UFO research. While unverified 2016 WikiLeaks documents mentioned his name in connection with alleged UFO projects, no official records substantiate extraordinary circumstances.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
BREAKING NEWS…….RED ALERT!!!Retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland — a former commander at Kirtland Air Force Base and former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory — has vanished, and the internet is already on fire.
This is the same… pic.twitter.com/2lOhfncU5k
— Jon Stewart (@JonStewartIL) March 2, 2026
Public Urged to Assist in Ongoing Search
Authorities continue to appeal for public assistance as the search extends beyond its initial week. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has directed anyone with information to text BCSO to 847411 or call +1-505-468-7070. The case highlights the challenges facing law enforcement when medical vulnerabilities complicate missing person investigations, particularly for individuals with significant professional backgrounds. McCasland’s family has remained out of public view during the search, with Kirtland Air Force Base serving as the primary military liaison. The coordination between local, federal, and military resources demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case, despite the absence of criminal indicators that would typically warrant such extensive involvement.
Sources:
FBI Joins Search For Missing Retired Air Force General Who Worked On UFO Research
Retired general who once led Air Force research laboratory goes missing
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Retired Air Force general who researched UFOs is missing in New Mexico