SPARTA, Inc. is a United States defense contractor based in Lake Forest, California. It was started in 1979 and has more than 20 offices around the United States. The acronym, SPARTA, stands for "Systems Planning Analysis Research and Technology Associates." SPARTA is unusual for a U.S. defense contractor in that it is publicly held but privately traded; it is more than 98% owned by its 1,300 employees. Employees are granted stock options based on various criteria, including corporate profit and individual contribution to bringing in new business. Employees may sell stock back to the company when their options vest, at a price determined by a formula for valuing the company. Some benefits and company procedures are decided upon by a council of employees which meets usually annually. Slightly fewer than one third of the representatives to the council are elected by the employees.
