The Chief Software Engineering Advisory Council (CSEAC) was established in March 2006 within Aerospace Space Program Operations to determine how the corporation can best provide software support for Air Force acquisition programs. Specifically, the council assists the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) in its software-acquisition efforts for intensive space systems. It aligns all Aerospace software-related initiatives to focus support toward the success of SMC missions.
The CSEAC developed its structure to accommodate a long-term operational strategy to carry out this goal. The council is cosponsored by Space Program Operations and the Engineering and Technology Group and reports to both vice presidents. An Aerospace chief software engineer is designated for each Space Program Operations division. Providing software engineering and oversight for software issues, these chief engineers constitute a powerful team resource. In addition, senior software engineers participate in CSEAC activities to ensure that all facets of Aerospace software efforts are represented.
In February 2007, CSEAC expanded one of its strategic components, the Software Leadership Initiative, to assist in forming the SMC Software Action Group. A collaboration of representatives from both SMC software customers and Aerospace software support, this group is addressing a number of software-related issues, including those directly associated with acquisition mission assurance, such as the use of common software acquisition tools.
—Francis Sisti, Chief Software Engineer