Inside NORAD's Annual Holiday Mission
NORAD Tracks Santa is a cherished tradition within the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Paul, a leader on our Next Generation Interceptor program, had the unique opportunity to support the program during his 24-year Army career.
For many, the holidays bring joy, tradition, and perhaps a sprinkle of magic. For retired Colonel Paul, however, they brought an unforgettable mission. While serving as the United States Missile Defense Chief, Paul had the unique opportunity to play a role in NORAD Tracks Santa, a cherished tradition that brings together military and civilian volunteers to "track" Santa's journey around the world.
From 2014 to 2016, Paul served as the missile defense operations advisor while active duty with the U.S. Army alongside the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which is responsible for the whimsical mission: keeping tabs on Santa.
Each year, volunteers field calls and emails from over 200 countries, answering questions about Santa's whereabouts in a variety of languages. Participation in this heartwarming event is so popular that employees must enter a lottery to secure a coveted "Santa Tracker" time slot. Paul’s number was drawn once during his three-year tour, allowing him the rare opportunity to be one of Santa’s “elves.”
"The daily responsibility of protecting the United States can be intense, but this event is a welcome, uplifting tradition. It’s something nearly everyone wants to support."
Paul’s service with USNORTHCOM marked the culmination of a 24-year Army career and became one of his most cherished roles.
“There’s no better job than waking up each day with the responsibility to defend our families, friends, and way of life,” Paul reflected. “At times, it was a heavy burden, but knowing that our team at USNORTHCOM had the watch so Americans could sleep peacefully at night was a true privilege.”
After retiring from the military, Paul found a seamless transition to Lockheed Martin, where his passion for mission-focused innovation continued. Now serving in the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program, Paul leverages his expertise as a customer in his daily work.
"I worked with Lockheed Martin and many other companies during my military career, and it was clear to me what team I wanted to join once I retired. Do What’s Right, Respect Others and Perform with Excellence – the Lockheed Martin personnel I worked with during my military career lived and demonstrated the core values always, and so this company was the best choice for me."