Two individuals connected to the US aerospace sector, a retired Air Force general and a rocket scientist, have disappeared within roughly a year of each other, under circumstances investigators describe as strikingly similar. Both figures had associations with advanced defense projects and, publicly, with the enigmatic world of unidentified flying objects.
Major General William McCasland, 68, a retired Air Force official who previously commanded research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, went missing on February 27th. He departed for a hike near his New Mexico home, leaving behind his phone, smartwatch, and prescription glasses. His wife last saw him around 11 AM, after he had spoken with a repair person at their home. An Air Force sweatshirt was later discovered about a mile and a half from his residence. McCasland had reportedly been involved in advanced aerospace research and was associated with UFO circles.
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His disappearance follows that of Monica Reza, a rocket scientist, who vanished eight months prior while hiking in Angeles National Forest, California. Reza, who worked on high-level aerospace projects including specialized alloys for US rocket systems, also disappeared leaving personal belongings behind. Volunteers and authorities conducted extensive, months-long searches involving helicopters, radar, and canine units, but no trace of Reza has been found. She remains a missing person.
Both McCasland and Reza held professional ties to US aerospace programs. McCasland, having led research and development initiatives, oversaw billions in classified projects. Reza's work on advanced aerospace components reportedly intersected with Air Force-funded research. The parallel nature of their disappearances, particularly the abandonment of personal effects and the lack of any confirmed sightings despite considerable search efforts, has drawn renewed attention to both cases. McCasland's disappearance has prompted FBI involvement and broader national attention, while Reza's case continues as an unsolved missing persons investigation.
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The vanishing of McCasland occurred shortly after President Trump’s commitment to declassifying files pertaining to UFOs. Reports suggest McCasland had also, in a post-retirement capacity, offered unpaid expertise on military, technical, and scientific matters to an entity that worked with Tom DeLonge, a figure prominent in public discussions around UFOs. McCasland is described as highly intelligent and capable, with no known other health issues that might explain his disappearance.
