An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .mil
A
.mil
website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
lock
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Skip to main content (Press Enter).
HOME
ABOUT US
Our History
Leadership
Locations
SSP Mission
Sustainment
Development
Safeguard
Polaris Sales Agreement
About Us
NEWS & MEDIA
News
Photo Gallery
Video Library
Publications
News & Media
DOING BUSINESS
Long Range Acquisition Estimate (LRAE)
Small Business Office
SBIR Program
Doing Business
CAREERS
Available Opportunities
Who We Hire
Benefits
Careers
STEM
STEM News
Photo Gallery
STEM
RESOURCES
Media Queries and Public Affairs
Employment Verification
Equal Employment Opportunity
Freedom of Information Act
Military Sponsorship
Contact Us
Translate
Resources
Search
Home
News & Media
News
Home
News & Media
News
HOME
ABOUT US
Our History
Leadership
Locations
SSP Mission
Sustainment
Development
Safeguard
Polaris Sales Agreement
NEWS & MEDIA
News
Photo Gallery
Video Library
Publications
DOING BUSINESS
Long Range Acquisition Estimate (LRAE)
Small Business Office
SBIR Program
CAREERS
Available Opportunities
Who We Hire
Benefits
STEM
STEM News
Photo Gallery
RESOURCES
Media Queries and Public Affairs
Employment Verification
Equal Employment Opportunity
Freedom of Information Act
Military Sponsorship
Contact Us
Translate
Search News
SSP’s Activity and Recreations Committee Brings the Workforce Together in Holiday Cheer
20 December 2024
From Thomas Jones
WASHINGTON – With the year winding down and coming to an end, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) celebrated its annual holiday party at Capital Turnaround on Nov. 12, bringing people together for food and holiday cheer.
Organized by SSP’s Activity and Recreations Committee (SPARC), a team made up of military and civilian volunteers who plan fundraisers and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) events, the holiday party featured a Trident II cake, games, an ugly sweater contest, and a raffle.
The Annual Holiday Party is one of SPARC’s biggest events of the year. According to Lt. Michael Amatangelo, Flag Aide to Director Strategic Systems Programs, and SPARC’s military co-chair, this year the party was even bigger than expected.
“The holiday party is meant to bring as much of the organization together out of the work space prior to the New Year as possible,” said Amatangelo. “We ended up with almost 400 tickets sold! Last year we sold about 280 tickets, so a big jump.”
This year, every attendee of the holiday party received a ticket to participate in the raffle. Funded by the various events such as bake sales that SPARC hosts throughout the year, the raffle prizes, including gift cards and gaming systems, occupied a whole table of their own, and were by far one of the biggest attractions of the day.
Emily Allen-Shaw, Plans & Programs Deputy at SSP, won an Airbnb gift card from the raffle. Allen-Shaw plans on using her prize during an upcoming trip to King’s Point, New York to visit her daughter, who attends the United States Merchant Marine Academy. “My husband and I have been planning on getting a place in New York City…so we can see her. We are going to use the gift card for that!” said Allen-Shaw.
The SSP Holiday Party brings the SSP workforce together, and SPARC volunteers work tirelessly to make sure that the workforce has the opportunity to build personal connections with each other outside of their normal workplace routine.
“It’s good to get out of the building, connect as an organization, and just enjoy some non-work fun,” explained Amatangelo.
Shelly Payne, another SPARC volunteer and Mission Assurance Analyst at SSP, said “I love helping. I love being able to plan events to bring people together.” She says the best part of the holiday party is “socializing with people that maybe you wouldn’t normally socialize with or even have time to chat with. It gets people out to meet more people within the command. It gives you a different connection with them.”
It’s important to recognize those that spend the time and energy to ensure the event is enjoyable for everybody. It’s a process that takes all year to see to fruition, resting entirely on the shoulders of dedicated volunteers. Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe, Jr, Director of Strategic Systems Programs, said “We all get to come and get to have fun, but it’s a lot of work. I want to recognize the folks that make this possible.”
“I can say it takes a lot of off duty time to plan these parties. People need to obtain licenses, take time out of their evenings to pick up stuff from the stores, plan with the venue for decorations and setup, and order and coordinate with MWR,” said Caroline Magdinec, Special Projects Program Manager at SSP and SPARC volunteer.
“The efforts are definitely reflected in the end product, but people only see the end result…I want people to recognize the selflessness that goes into events like this.”
SPARC is affiliated with the wider umbrella of Navy MWR Programs. Navy MWR provides funding and resources for events that support military and civilian morale. Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Programs date back to the 1800s, and continue to be an important building block of military morale. The mission of Navy MWR is to serve the needs, interests, and responsibilities of all people in the military community-sailors and marines, their families, civilian employees, military retirees, and other eligible participants-for as long as they are associated with the Navy, no matter where they are located.
Strategic Systems Programs is the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad and the Navy’s strategic deterrence capabilities. This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities, and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) Strategic Weapon System, Nuclear Sea Launched Cruise Missile, and Conventional Prompt Strike Hypersonics.
Google Translation Disclaimer
Guidance-Card-Icon
Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon