Software Engineering Institute (SEI)
Abstract
Software is key to meeting the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) increasing demand for high-quality, affordable, and timely national defense systems. Systemic software issues are significant contributors to poor program execution, and reliance on software-intensive mobile and net-based products and systems has been increasing (e.g., Joint Tactical Radio System, DDG-1000, Joint Strike Fighter, F-22, and Army Modernization). As stated in the 2010 National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences report entitled Critical Code, “It is dangerous to conclude that we are reaching a plateau in capability and technology for software producibility.” The report notes that software is “…unconstrained by traditional physical engineering limitations…” and what we can accomplish is derived “…from [the] human intellectual capacity to conceptualize and understand systems….” With growing global parity in software engineering, the DoD must maintain leadership to avoid strategic surprise. The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Program Element (PE) addresses the critical need to research, develop, and rapidly transition state-of-the-art technology and best practices to improve the engineering, management, fielding, evolution, and acquisition of software-intensive DoD systems. The SEI PE’s program of work seeks to coordinate across the Department and the Services and leverages expertise in industry and academia to enable the development of Joint capabilities. Software is more pervasive than ever, and computer programs are growing in size and complexity. Designing, managing, and securing integrated and large-scale mission-critical systems are abilities that the DoD and Defense Industrial Base (DIB) have not yet been mastered. P781 of this PE funds the SEI Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). The SEI FFRDC is an institute which enables the exploitation of emerging software technology by bringing engineering, management, and security discipline to software acquisition, development, and evolution, focusing on software technology areas judged to be of the highest payoff in meeting defense needs. Private sector investment has created rapid advances in information technologies, but the pace of transition to DoD applications is often very slow or the commercial applications do not meet DoD-unique needs (e.g., high assurance software or large scale integrated systems). The DoD needs to create opportunities to discover emerging technologies, to evaluate their potential to fit DoD needs, and, where appropriate, conduct critical tests of the technologies under DoD conditions. P783 of this PE includes the Software Producibility Initiative and Technology from Non-Traditional Sources (TNTS) Initiative. The Software Producibility Initiative seeks to research and transition software science and tools to model and evaluate the performance and control complexities of software-intensive systems. It also seeks to improve the design and sustainment of those systems. The TNTS Initiative seeks to facilitate early interactions between innovative companies and DoD users to accelerate the application of emerging technical solutions addressing DoD needs, reduce development costs, avoid technological surprise, and understand how commercial developments impact DoD programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 0603781D8Z_3_0400_PB_2012
- Change Summary Explanation
- Defense Efficiency – Report, Studies, Boards and Commissions. As part of the Department of Defense reform agenda, reflects a reduction in the number and cost of reports, studies, DoD Boards and DoD Commissions below the aggregate level reported in the previous budget submission.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of Secretary Of Defense
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