Navy Adm. William “Bill” Gortney readily admits that tracking Santa Claus is part of the mission of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), but he notes that protecting the nation and defending its airspace get top priority. Gortney, a second-generation naval aviator, took command of NORAD in 2014. His aviation career is predominantly military, but he once owned an American Champion Citabria with a friend and is looking forward to returning to general aviation flying when he retires. He also counsels GA pilots on how to react in the event of an intercept (www.aopa.org/tfr).
Getting started…I was an aviation officer candidate at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. I graduated from the jet strike pilot training in 1978.
Biggest challenges…Overcoming my fear of night carrier-arrested landings.
Certificates and ratings...Commercial, single-engine, multiengine (centerline thrust), instrument airplane.
Advice for students… I am a second-generation naval aviator. There were two pieces of advice my father gave me when he dropped me off at the Aviation Officer Candidate School: First, no jet is worth your life; if it’s broken, get out. Second, take care of your sailors and they will take care of you. I think the broad themes of take care of your equipment and your people resonate inside and outside the military.
Extra…A Colorado Springs newspaper printed NORAD’s telephone number in an advertisement at Christmas and since that time NORAD has a staff of volunteers dedicated to tracking Santa’s flight path across the United States (www.noradsanta.org).
