The North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, has tracked Santa on Christmas Eve every year since 1955. This year, it’s upping its game, and it has some competition. Lt. Cmdr. Bill Lewis is a spokesman for NORAD.

Scientists at the Smithsonian National Zoo are working with aerospace industry leaders on a new program they call Partners in the Sky. Its goal is to create a real-time global tracking system to help unlock the mysteries of animal migration. Pete Marra, a research scientist at the National Zoo, has more on the effort.

The General Services Administration has turned federal buildings into labs for green technology. Think tinted windows and programmable lighting systems. Dorothy Robyn has an update on the Green Proving Ground program. She is commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at GSA.

Related Story: GSA’s green energy testing benefits federal buildings, commercial manufacturers

The list of best federal agencies to work for is out. Lots of repeat winners at the top of the list. But overall, it shows a disturbing trend. The Partnership for Public Service compiles the rankings. President Max Stier has more.

When it comes to new technology, the government is known to take years to develop requirements, acquire the product and finally use it. Citizenship and Immigration Services is trying to cut the time it takes to go from concept to implementation. Chief Information Officer Mark Schwartz tells Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller how the agency is speeding up the process for mission-critical software.

The recent shooting at the Navy Yard has thrust federal building security into the spotlight. Problems plague the agency that provides much of that security. The Federal Protective Service struggles to train its force of contract security guards. Criticism comes from the Government Accountability Office, private security firms and the agency’s labor union. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu has details.