Retired US Air Force General Linked to UFO Research Missing in New Mexico
A retired US Air Force general, who previously commanded laboratories connected to UFO research, has been reported missing from New Mexico. William Neil McCasland, aged 68, was last seen around 11am on Friday near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).
Silver Alert Issued for Missing Veteran
The sheriff's office has activated a Silver Alert, a public notification system designed to locate missing seniors or individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other medical conditions. Due to his medical issues, law enforcement is deeply concerned for his safety, the office stated in an official release.
McCasland, a veteran of Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, formerly led both the Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. These facilities have been associated by some UFO enthusiasts with secret studies of advanced aerospace technology and unexplained aerial phenomena, though officials consistently maintain they focus on national security and experimental defense projects.
Search Efforts and Community Response
Colonel Justin Secrest, commander of Kirtland's 377th Air Base Wing, informed the Albuquerque Journal that the base is collaborating closely with local law enforcement agencies. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time, Secrest expressed. The BCSO has disseminated a missing person's report on social media, noting an unknown clothing description and unknown direction of travel.
By Sunday afternoon, New Mexico Search and Rescue had joined the investigation, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. Authorities are urging anyone with information to text BCSO at 847411 or contact the Missing Persons Unit directly at 505-468-7070.
Background in Aerospace Research and UFO Speculation
During his tenure, McCasland supervised research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, managing the Air Force's substantial $2.2 billion science and technology program alongside additional customer-funded research initiatives. Wright-Patterson has long been intertwined in UFO folklore, often linked to the alleged examination of materials from the 1947 Roswell incident, although official accounts attribute the debris to Project Mogul balloons.
McCasland retired from the Air Force in 2013 and subsequently held private-sector roles, including director of technology at Applied Technology Associates. His name became notably associated with UFO topics following the 2016 WikiLeaks release of emails from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.
Connections to UFO Disclosure Claims
In these emails, musician Tom DeLonge, founder of Blink-182 and the UFO-focused To The Stars Academy (TTSA), referenced McCasland multiple times. DeLonge claimed that McCasland had advised him on disclosure matters and assisted in assembling an advisory team. On a podcast, DeLonge suggested he was being guided by McCasland and other insiders to orchestrate a gradual disclosure of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) information to the public from government or contractor sources.
DeLonge further asserted that the US government and contractor groups already possess free energy technology, sometimes termed zero-point energy, which could render conventional energy sources obsolete. One inch of air could power the U.S. for hundreds of years, he stated. He indicated that TTSA was being restrained from releasing all provided information but sought private investment to develop this technology for energy and aerospace applications.
An email tied McCasland to Wright-Patterson, alleging he oversaw the laboratory where Roswell materials were purportedly sent. Scheduling emails showed a planned meeting with DeLonge, Podesta, and someone signing as 'Neil McC,' consistent with McCasland's name.
Official Records and Speculative Context
It is crucial to note that these claims originate from DeLonge and have not been confirmed by McCasland or official records. There is no public evidence that he participated in UFO crash retrievals, reverse-engineering of non-human technology, or classified extraterrestrial programs. His documented career focused on advanced aerospace research, which has nonetheless fueled ongoing speculation about experimental propulsion and unidentified phenomena within defense and enthusiast circles.
