Software Engineering Institute (SEI)
Abstract
Software is a 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. Reliance on software-intensive mobile and net based products and systems has increased (e.g., Joint Tactical Radio System, USS ZUMWALT (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 software technology, tools, development environments, and best practices to improve the engineering, management, fielding, evolution, acquisition, and sustainment of software-intensive DoD systems. The SEI’s program of work coordinates across the DoD through Reliance 21, the overarching framework of the DoD’s Science and Technology (S&T) joint planning and coordination process. This PE benefits every Community of Interest (COI) to some degree due to the ubiquitous nature of software, but directly benefits: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I); Autonomy; Cyber; and Engineered Resilient Systems. This PE also leverages expertise in government, industry, and academia to enable the development of joint-Service capabilities. Software is more pervasive than ever, and computer programs are growing in size and complexity. Designing, managing, and securing integrated, complex, and large-scale mission-critical systems are abilities that the DoD and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) have not yet mastered. To address this, the PE funds research and development within the SEI Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and, to access particular expertise, in the Services, industry, and academia. The SEI FFRDC is the DoD’s dedicated source for software research and development. It is an institute which enables the exploitation of emerging software technology by bringing engineering, management, and security discipline to software acquisition, development, and evolution. The SEI FFRDC focuses on software technology areas judged to be of the highest payoff in meeting defense needs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 0603781D8Z_3_0400_PB_2017
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2017 internal realignment reflects funding for higher Departmental priorities and requirements.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of the Secretary Of Defense
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
Related Documents
- Child Project: Software Engineering Institute (SEI)
- Child Accomplishment: Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Research