# Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Applied Research — Program Element 0602751D8Z

**Program element:** 0602751D8Z  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 2 — Applied Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602751D8Z

## Summary

Defense-Wide funding falls 19% to a $7.1M request in FY2027, with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 10.9 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 8.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 7.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 5.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 3.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 1.6 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 7.1 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 7.1 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 7.1 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 7.1 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 278 | Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Applied Research | 10.9 | 8.8 | 7.1 | −19% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 278 — Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Applied Research

Work conducted under this program will enable resilient mission assurance in heterogeneous and contested environments through the verification and validation of system performance and architecture. The program will also assist the Department of War (DoW) in retaining a long-term advantage in the areas of software-intensive systems and cyber security by enhancing assurance, exploiting automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and understanding human-computer interaction. Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Applied Research has two main research thrusts with known military applications: (1) Software Engineering, Systems Verification and Validation, and Mission Assurance (formerly Mission Assurance); and (2) Information Assurance. This area is increasingly being applied to AI and autonomous systems.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEI Applied Research in the Area of Software Engineering, Systems Verification and Validation, and Mission Assurance | 7.7 | 5.8 | 4.1 |
| Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Applied Research in the areas of Information Assurance (IA) | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This program supports the Department's initiative to Build Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage. The Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) was established in 1984 as an integral part of the DoW’s initiative to identify, evaluate, and transition software engineering technologies and practices. The mission of the SEI is to provide the DoW with technical leadership and innovation through research and development to advance the practice of software engineering and technology.

## Related program elements

- [0204413N — Amphibious Tactical Supt Units](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0204413N) (Navy)
- [0602234D8Z — Lincoln Laboratory Research Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602234D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0603781D8Z — Software Engineering Institute (SEI)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603781D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0206625M — USMC Intelligence/Electronics Warfare Sys](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0206625M) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0602751D8Z (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0602751D8Z")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*