As of March 13, 2026, the search for retired Major General William “Neil” McCasland has entered its second week, escalating into what some are calling a “grave national security crisis.” McCasland, a former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) with a background in the most sensitive corners of U.S. space and defense research, vanished from his Albuquerque home on February 27, 2026.

The case has drawn intense scrutiny not just for the General’s high rank, but for his long-standing, albeit controversial, ties to the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

The Disappearance: Timeline and Investigation

Major General McCasland, 68, reportedly left his residence on foot at approximately 11:00 AM on February 27. He left behind his cell phone, a detail that investigators find particularly concerning for an avid outdoorsman known to frequent the Sandia Mountains foothills.

• Silver Alert: The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) issued a Silver Alert shortly after his disappearance, citing an unspecified “medical issue.“

• FBI Involvement: On March 12, 2026, the FBI Albuquerque Field Office officially joined the search. While local authorities state there is “no evidence of foul play” as of yet, the involvement of federal agents underscores the high-stakes nature of the case.

• The Family’s Stance: McCasland’s wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, has taken to social media to dispel rumors of dementia, stating her husband was “not confused or disoriented” and that while he is “at some risk,” the nature of that risk has not been publicly detailed.

National Security and the UFO Connection

Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart has been vocal about the implications of the General’s disappearance. McCasland’s resume is a roadmap of highly classified aerospace history:

• Wright-Patterson AFB: He commanded the AFRL at the Ohio base that has been the center of “Roswell debris” rumors for over 70 years.

• The Podesta Emails: McCasland’s name famously appeared in the 2016 WikiLeaks release, where Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge identified him as a key official with knowledge of “recovered craft” and advanced propulsion.

Coulthart argues that the timing is “screechingly relevant,” noting that McCasland vanished just days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Pentagon to identify and release files related to extraterrestrial life and UAPs.

Speculation vs. Investigation

While the UFO community and some journalists worry about “targeted abduction” or “silencing” given McCasland’s alleged support for transparency, law enforcement remains focused on the physical search. Search teams have canvassed over 600 homes and reviewed hundreds of hours of security footage in the Northeast Heights neighborhood of Albuquerque.

As of today, the Sandia Mountains remain under heavy aerial and ground surveillance. Whether the General simply met with a tragic accident while hiking or if there is a deeper, more clandestine reason for his disappearance remains the most pressing question in the U.S. intelligence community.

Current Status: Missing for 14 days. Silver Alert remains active. No sightings reported.