Enable breadcrumbs token at /includes/pageheader.html.twig

3 Reasons To Still Believe in Santa

High-tech, data strategies and the annual trip around the world.

U.S. airmen and their families welcome Santa as he arrives in a 169th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet, at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, December 2019. Swamp Fox children talked to Santa, played games, decorated cookies and made reindeer bells. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Floyd, 169th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

It’s possible that you are no longer a “believer.” We most certainly understand.

Even so, we present our current theory: modern-day Santa achieves his mission with high-tech and cybersecurity in mind.

Before we list our reasons for believing in Santa, let us preface the argument by stating the obvious. Funding is the prime component behind our theory, and we believe that many generous donors take part in providing Santa with the appropriate funds to help complete his annual missions.

1 . Let’s start with the most obvious. Santa’s helpers fly the fastest aircraft in the world. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, perhaps? We’re talking 2,100 mph, at three times the speed of sound. The aircraft can cover up to 100,000 square miles of territory in as little as one hour, and its high speed and innovative design help it stay undetected in many situations. Coincidence? Doubtful.

2 . Let’s be realistic. Maybe Santa’s not personally delivering every single package, but is it so unbelievable to think that highly popular drone innovations can’t carry gifts of all shapes and sizes? Not to mention autonomous drones, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles, which use artificial intelligence to navigate without the help of a human pilot. In fact, it’s been reported companies such as Amazon and DHL are testing drone package-delivery systems to reduce negative environmental impacts. Santa’s so ahead of his time.

3 . This is the big one. Like all great leaders, Santa has a data strategy. For one, there’s more than enough collected online information on each one of us for him to figure out what exactly you need and want—as well as where you are and who you’ll be spending the holidays with. Back in September, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced an upcoming release of its comprehensive data strategy. Lori Wade, chief data officer and assistant director for National Intelligence for Data and Partnership Interoperability, spoke on the one-year action plan and a focus on end-to-end data management “to enable and reduce the time of data flow from collection to actual insight.” Santa wasn’t present at the panel discussion; however, we’re sure he’d come up with a similar plan of action.

Our SIGNAL Media writers have spent all year reporting on the newest and most impressive technologies created by some of the world’s most innovative masterminds. With the mission of providing a global secure environment, we’d like to believe that today’s world of science could also create a new reality that supports a little bit of yearly magic and cheer.

With that said, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season … believers or not.