Retired Air Force Brigadier General William Neil McCasland, who resides in New Mexico, has been missing for nearly two weeks, sparking concern among the community. McCasland held sensitive positions within the U.S. military, leading some to speculate that his disappearance may be related to extraterrestrial activities, although experts dismiss such claims.
As of Friday, March 13, the 68-year-old McCasland has been missing for two weeks. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office issued a Silver Alert immediately after his reported disappearance on February 27, describing him as 5 feet 11 inches tall with blue eyes and white hair. The alert also mentioned his health issues, prompting law enforcement to prioritize his safety.
Silver Alert is an emergency notification system in New Mexico aimed at individuals over 50 exhibiting signs of cognitive decline. However, McCasland’s wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, attested that her husband does not suffer from dementia.
Despite extensive community visits, interviews, and search efforts involving over 600 households, law enforcement has yet to locate McCasland. Described as an outdoor enthusiast, McCasland often engaged in activities like hiking, running, and cycling in the northeast highlands of Albuquerque and the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.
Given McCasland’s background and past affiliations, the Sheriff’s Office is collaborating closely with various agencies, including the FBI’s Albuquerque branch and Kirtland Air Force Base, in the search efforts.
Having held roles as the chief engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense Global Positioning System (GPS) project, the system project manager for the space-based laser project office, and a special project manager at the Pentagon, McCasland’s disappearance has stirred speculation, especially regarding his alleged involvement with artifacts related to the Roswell incident reportedly housed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The Roswell incident, one of the world’s most famous UFO events, occurred in July 1947 near Roswell, New Mexico. Controversy persists over whether the debris recovered belonged to an alien spacecraft or a classified military device.
Given these circumstances, speculation linking McCasland’s disappearance to extraterrestrial beings has circulated. However, Wilkerson clarified on her social media account that while McCasland had brief interactions with UFO enthusiast circles, this was not a justification for his disappearance.
Wilkerson suggested humorously that perhaps aliens transported him to their mothership, yet no sightings of such craft over the Sandia Mountains have been reported.
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb echoed Wilkerson’s sentiments, stating that McCasland’s disappearance likely does not stem from his knowledge of UFOs but rather his involvement in developing cutting-edge military technologies.
Loeb remarked, “He was probably responsible for the latest advancements in Air Force weaponry development. However, it’s hard to believe that information from decades ago would be a reason to remove him now, especially after President Trump has declassified some non-national security-related data.”
McCasland has been retired for 13 years, boasting engineering degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard Kennedy School. The FBI has joined the search efforts for McCasland.