Retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, has been missing since he walked away from his Albuquerque home around 11 a.m. on Feb. 27; his cell phone was left at home and a Silver Alert remains active. Bernalillo County investigators, working with the FBI and Kirtland Air Force Base, have conducted extensive searches that have contacted over 600 homeowners and used foot teams, horseback units, drones, helicopters and search dogs. McCasland, an astronautical engineer who held senior DoD roles and later worked with To The Stars, Inc., has no evidence of foul play reported so far. Authorities are asking the public to submit tips or footage through the sheriff's office webpage.
FBI Joins Search for Retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, Missing Since Feb. 27
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland - US Air Force
Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, has been missing since he left his Albuquerque home on foot at about 11 a.m. on Feb. 27. Bernalillo County authorities say McCasland did not take his cell phone and has not contacted family or friends; a Silver Alert was issued the following day and remains active.
Search Efforts and Investigation
Officials say an unspecified medical issue has increased the urgency of the search. Investigators have conducted extensive neighborhood canvassing, interviewed residents and coordinated multi-agency search operations. More than 600 homeowners in the area have been contacted, and search methods have included foot teams, horseback units, drones, helicopters and three types of search dogs. Authorities are also reviewing Ring and wildlife-camera footage.
Because of McCasland's military background and professional connections, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating closely with the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Kirtland Air Force Base. The FBI has confirmed its involvement. To date, investigators report no evidence of foul play but say they are considering all possibilities.
McCasland has been missing for nearly two weeks. - Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office
Career and Background
An astronautical engineer by training, McCasland earned degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. During his Air Force career he held several sensitive senior posts, including chief engineer for the Department of Defense's Global Positioning System program, system program director of the Space Based Laser Project Office, director of special programs at the Pentagon and commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
After retiring nearly 13 years ago, McCasland worked with To The Stars, Inc., the company co-founded by musician Tom DeLonge that researches unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). His wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, said in a Facebook post that he had a brief association with the UAP community but does not have dementia and was not confused or disoriented when he left home. She added she believes it is unlikely anyone would abduct him to extract dated secrets.
“Maybe the best hypothesis is that aliens beamed him up to the mothership,” Wilkerson wrote wryly, noting no sightings of a mothership over the Sandia Mountains have been reported.
Investigators ask anyone with information, tips, or relevant footage to contact the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office or submit files through the office's dedicated webpage. Media outlets, including CNN, have reached out to the Air Force and McCasland’s family for comment.
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