NORAD gears up for Santa mission

Two generals in charge of defending the nation’s airspace cleared a seat at their table Thursday morning for Santa Claus himself.

But before their annual “mission briefing” could begin, 4-year-old Madison Loucks seized the floor with an urgent announcement.

“I want a camera!” she cried, as if heralding a national emergency.

This year, about 20 children of military personnel were invited to join commanders from the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base as they briefed Santa on airspace preparations for his global Christmas Eve flight.

The kids squirmed with mouths agape while Air Force Maj. Jim Collins — by day, an F-16 fighter pilot — mulled the details of Santa’s “gift-to-child ratio” and concerns about “chimney facilities.”

The 15-minute slideshow also featured a weather briefing and detailed review of Santa’s flight path. Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum and Lt. Gen. J.M. Duval of the Canadian Forces kept straight-faced throughout, even as Santa was asked whether they, too, were on the “nice list” this year.

Turns out it’s a moot question.

“Even a naughty general gets presents,” Santa bellowed.

NORAD – formerly housed in subterranean quarters in Cheyenne Mountain – has been “monitoring” Santa’s Christmas Eve flight since 1958, the year The Gazette mistakenly printed the command center’s phone number in an advertisement that beckoned children to a local appearance by Santa.

A quick-thinking colonel played along when the phone lines began lighting up, starting a tradition that continues today with several hundred volunteers answering calls and e-mails from children from around the world.

Click here for more information about NORAD Tracks Santa. www.noradsanta.org.
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