Booz Allen brings the holiday cheer

Continuing a nascent tradition that first appeared in 2007, Booz Allen Hamilton will dedicate staff and resources this Christmas Eve to NORAD's famed Santa Tracker program. The firm's tech support effort will see Booz Allen consultants assist in the maintenance and operation of the Santa Tracker website, coordinate a social media blitz to draw attention to the program, and even answer phones and reply to emails from curious children across the globe. Though it's all pro bono, they'll have their hands full—the site is available in seven languages, including Japanese and Chinese, and also features streaming video (via "Santa Cams") from a number of cities along the bearded sage's route. Thanks to Booz Allen, kids will be able to log onto Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to find real-time, interactive information and photos documenting Santa's journey.

The Booz Allen brass was predictably quick to capitalize on the PR opportunity. Joe Suarez, the firm's Executive Advisor for Community Partnerships and Philanthropy, amusingly noted that the act of tracking Santa's journey "can inspire children to dream higher than the stars." Despite the clear lack of 'height' in a universe of infinite space-time, the firm is confident that the effort will "inspire more young people to answer the call for careers in technology fields." Higher than the stars indeed!

For more information:
http://www.noradsanta.org/
http://www.boozallen.com/santa
http://www.flickr.com/photos/noradtrackssanta

- Sam Reynolds