NM - Retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, who led Air Force Research Laboratory. February 27th,2026

[sds71]

Bernalillo County authorities are looking for a missing retired general.

On Friday, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office issued a silver alert for retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, who was last seen at about 11 a.m. Friday in the area of Quail Run Court NE. It is unknown what he was wearing or where he was heading to. McCasland is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 160 lbs. with blue eyes and gray hair, BCSO spokesperson Deanna Aragon said in a news release.

"Due to his medical issues, law enforcement is concerned for his safety," she said.

On Sunday afternoon, Aragon said New Mexico Search and Rescue was assisting with the investigation.

Neil McCasland Courtesy of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office
McCasland is the former commander of Kirtland's Phillips Research Site and Air Force Research Laboratory as well as a Kirtland Partnership Committee board member.

"We are coordinating closely with local authorities and defer all updates regarding the search efforts to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office," said Col. Justin Secrest, base commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland, in a statement. "Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."

Retired Kirtland commander reported missing since Friday

'We are coordinating closely with local authorities,' according to Kirtland Air Force Base

www.abqjournal.com

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/article/104776/major-general-william-n-mccasland/

 

[Han]

Wow! This is a man with a heady resume. From Yahoo I found Maj. Gen. WM was retired from the position of Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In that position, he was "responsible for managing the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program as well as additional customer-funded research and development of $2.2 billion,"

Retired General William McCasland Is Missing. Some Draw Parallels to Nancy Guthrie

Maj. Gen. William McCasland was the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In that position, he was "responsible for managing the Air Force's $2.2 b...

www.yahoo.com

A Silver Alert issuance involves a missing person over a certain age who is medically impaired by some form of dementia.
My thoughts and prayers are that he will return safely home.

 

[sds71]

Who is William Neil McCasland? Ex-US general linked to UFO research missing

McCasland was last seen on February 27, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m. in the area of Quail Run Court NE, Albuquerque.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Via Marple]

Who is William Neil McCasland? Ex-US general linked to UFO research missing

McCasland was last seen on February 27, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m. in the area of Quail Run Court NE, Albuquerque.

www.newsweek.com

This may be worthy of X files...

In the same email, DeLonge emphasized that McCasland was “very, very aware” of the material DeLonge was investigating because McCasland had previously been “in charge of the laboratory at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base where the Roswell wreckage was shipped.”

 

[adot0902]

This may be worthy of X files...

In the same email, DeLonge emphasized that McCasland was “very, very aware” of the material DeLonge was investigating because McCasland had previously been “in charge of the laboratory at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base where the Roswell wreckage was shipped.”

Oh come one, I am way too much of a conspiracy theorist for this. I will be quietly following along!

 

[GraceG]

This may be worthy of X files...

In the same email, DeLonge emphasized that McCasland was “very, very aware” of the material DeLonge was investigating because McCasland had previously been “in charge of the laboratory at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base where the Roswell wreckage was shipped.”

Interesting fellow! Given unverified reports of early onset dementia (rumor only until msm notes it) I'm thinking he may have been having cognitive issues and got lost somewhere, perhaps in a vehicle.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

I've followed UFO/UAP research for 40+ years, so I'm very familiar with his name in that regard. I don't believe that he has ever spoken publicly on the topic, but his name comes up often because of his connections. I'm sure that conspiracy theories will abound.

His name jumped off the page for me when I saw it listed in the Missing Person forum. I just never expect to see a familiar name show up as a missing person. I'm surprised there hasn't been more coverage in the media. I hope that he will be safely located. Four days missing, and he has a medical condition, so it is very concerning.

https://www.facebook.com/BCSONM/posts/pfbid0JqjCWFhqxwNUNGwKEFGszh5UA68kSkjx78q9guotLJKJrW19kXx2Nez9RvF6tGdNl

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Interesting fellow! Given unverified reports of early onset dementia (rumor only until msm notes it) I'm thinking he may have been having cognitive issues and got lost somewhere, perhaps in a vehicle.

He is a very interesting person. You're right that reports of dementia are rumor only. I've been reading posts from people who know him, and they think that somehow the mention of a physical condition was translated in some peoples minds to mean dementia -- but they say that his condition is physical only, that mentally he is as sharp as he ever was.

 

[Chainspell]

Like Unalienable Rights, I've had interest in UFO/UAP research for a long time. Was surprising to see this name come up on a missing persons report.

Taking a look at the area he was last seen, there's some mountain trails a couple miles to the east. It's also on the edge of the Albuquerque metro area. The closer you get to those trails I was mentioning, some of the houses get pretty spread out. Would be helpful to know if his car is missing too or not, the article sds71 gives a lot of possibilities:

"The area where McCasland was last seen, near Quail Run Court NE, includes residential streets, walking routes, and open areas where someone on foot might travel without being easily noticed. Deputies have not said whether they believe he may have left the area using a vehicle or public transportation, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding his disappearance."

All JMO, of course. Hoping he's found safe and soon.

 

[Chainspell]

FBI joins search for missing ex-Air Force general

William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen Friday, Feb. 27, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

www.newsnationnow.com

 

[masscoast]

following as well.....LE should perhaps given some context for concern about "medical issues".....

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A distinguished retired major general has been missing since Friday, February 27. His strange disappearance reminds some people of what happened to Nancy Guthrie. William Neil McCasland formerly held an important role in the military. According to Men's Journal, he "was the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In that position, he was "responsible for managing the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program...."

McCasland's vanishing has led to speculation about similarities to the Nancy Guthrie case. McCasland, like Guthrie, lives in the Southwest. He's in New Mexico, to be exact. But there are few real parallels between these two concerning situations. Unlike Guthrie, mom of TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie, there is no proof at this time that McCasland, 68, was abducted from his home. "A silver alert [has been issued] for him," per the outlet

A Retired Major General Has Gone Missing: What We Know

William McCasland's disappearance has many wondering where he might be. Some have even likened it to the Nancy Guthrie case.

www.wideopencountry.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“When Roswell crashed, they shipped it to the laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. General McCasland was in charge of that exact laboratory up to a couple years ago,” DeLonge wrote to Podesta in 2016, per Rolling Stone. “He not only knows what I’m trying to achieve, he helped assemble my advisory team. He’s a very important man.”

https://people.com/retired-air-force-general-linked-to-ufo-research-goes-missing-11918672

 

[Motoman_90]

My moneys on the mother ship taking him

 

[Han]

In order to issue a Silver Alert in New Mexico as of June 20, 2025 the reporting party only needs to indicate they believe the missing person shows signs or symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, cognitive decline or impairment (regardless of age). WM is believed to be missing from his home and if reported missing by his wife a Silver Alert designation could be based off her belief. Online comments indicate

WM was fit both mentally and physically. But concern is growing he is lost in the desert possibly injured or worse.

Mostly my opinion

New Mexico lifts diagnostic criteria for Silver Alerts • Source New Mexico

"Silver Alerts" in New Mexico will no longer require a formal diagnosis for Alzheimer's, dementia or other cognitive decline.

sourcenm.com

 

[truecrimel]

This is very odd IMO, given his work history and how high of a security clearance he must’ve had. The police seem to be treating this as Alzheimer’s related, but 68 is young IMO. I know it does happen, but based on what I’ve seen from those close to him, he seems to be of a sound mind.

I have to wonder if this is in anyway related to his job. I can imagine there’s a large group of people who are interested in knowing what he knows and someone with bad intentions could’ve kidnapped him for information. I hope police are looking at this angle as well. (I’m sure they probably already are.)

JMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is involved in this investigation, as it is standard practice for the FBI to assist our local law enforcement partners if we have a tool, tactic, or technique that could benefit their investigations,” a spokesperson told The Post in a statement. “The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is leading this investigation.”

There are no signs of any criminal activity such as a kidnapping or anything else,” a spokesperson told The Post.

“His disappearance is only being investigated as a missing person/silver alert at this time.”

FBI joins search for missing retired Air Force general with ties to UFO-linked military base

Retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen in Albuquerque at about 11 a.m. on Friday, local authorities said.

nypost.com

 

[SteveS]

Silver Alert, by definition, is someone missing who is apparently suffering from sort of cognitive (ie, dementia) issue. While that designation can allow for it to ALSO have been caused by someone taking advantage of that handicap, it rarely is. It can be that they wandered away and had no clue how to get back. That's VERY real. I have had the challenge of dealing with aging issues in family, and these things are far more common than you realize until you have been there. It doesn't take a medical diagnosis to know your loved one is dealing with that problem, and I can't imagine anyone in a loving family who would tell the public their loved one is dealing with something like that, if it wasn't true.

 

[nao]

My moneys on the mother ship taking him

Moo...too soon. He is missing and probably dead some where.