91视频

91视频鈥檚 Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is entering the next chapter of helping the nation turn rapid advances in software, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence into secure, reliable capabilities that strengthen national security.

91视频 has named Jason M. Brown as director and CEO of the聽, a Department of War (DOW)-sponsored, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operated by the university. Brown will join 91视频 on Nov. 16, bringing extensive experience across military operations, the DOW and other national security agencies, academia and the defense technology industry at a pivotal moment for the institute and its mission.聽

For more than four decades, the SEI has brought together an understanding of national security missions, deep technical expertise and Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 research strengths to address consequential challenges for the nation. As emerging technologies transform defense operations, the institute has an opportunity to expand that role 鈥� helping the department evaluate new capabilities, understand their potential and vulnerabilities and employ them responsibly at scale.

鈥淛ason brings an exceptional breadth of experience to this role,鈥� said Theresa Mayer, 91视频鈥檚 vice president for research. 鈥淗e understands national-security missions from the perspective of a military leader, the development and deployment of emerging technologies from his work in industry and the contributions universities can make through research and education. That combination, together with his commitment to public service, makes him exceptionally well suited to lead the SEI as it builds on its success and enters its next chapter.鈥�

As director and CEO, Brown will set the SEI鈥檚 strategic direction, oversee its research, engineering and technology-transition activities and serve as its principal representative to federal sponsors and partners. He will work with researchers throughout Carnegie Mellon to connect the university鈥檚 strengths with emerging national security needs.

Brown first worked with Carnegie Mellon and the SEI while in the Air Force, gaining an early view of how the institute connects technical expertise with national-security missions.

鈥淭he department鈥檚 expertise in AI, cybersecurity and software has advanced remarkably in a short period of time, but important questions remain about how emerging technologies should be evaluated, secured and employed,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淐arnegie Mellon and the SEI can help the department understand both their potential and their vulnerabilities 鈥� and use them in ways that strengthen our nation鈥檚 competitive advantage.鈥�

Brown brings experience across each of the sectors central to the SEI鈥檚 mission. He currently serves as general manager, government, at Applied Intuition, where he leads work to develop and deploy software and autonomous technologies for government and defense customers. Before joining Applied Intuition, he led Google鈥檚 professional services business for defense.聽

Brown has held senior U.S. Air Force leadership positions focused on intelligence, emerging technology and national security. As director of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group, he developed and implemented the service鈥檚 emerging-technology strategy and founded the U.S. Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He was a founding member of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Brown is also an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches artificial intelligence and national security.

鈥淭he most powerful results occur when researchers, military professionals and industry partners work closely enough to recognize possibilities that no one organization would identify on its own,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭he SEI can create more of those connections 鈥� bringing Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 ideas and technical capabilities together with a deep understanding of the mission and helping turn them into capabilities that make a real difference.鈥�

Advancing the SEI鈥檚 National Security Mission

The ability to connect research with mission needs has defined the SEI throughout its history. Its work has influenced how the DOW develops and acquires software, protects the defense industrial base, responds to cybersecurity threats and moves AI from experimental models into dependable systems.

Brown sees particular potential for the SEI to help shape the development and use of autonomous systems.

鈥淎utonomous systems depend on AI from perception and planning through control, collaboration and orchestration,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淓very one of those elements creates opportunities as well as vulnerabilities. My goal is for the SEI to lead among FFRDCs and university-based organizations in helping the department understand, integrate and responsibly employ these systems.鈥�

The SEI also has an important role in modernizing how the government evaluates and acquires software and AI-enabled capabilities. It can help sponsors determine whether systems will perform as intended, identify emerging vulnerabilities and failure modes and adapt evaluation approaches created for hardware to technologies that change continually.

鈥淭he SEI is exceptionally well positioned for its next chapter, with extraordinary people, deep technical capabilities and trusted partnerships with organizations in government, industry and academia,鈥� said John Gilligan, chair of the SEI Board of Visitors. 鈥淭he board thanks Paul Nielsen for his superb leadership in guiding the SEI for the past 22 years and looks forward to working with Jason as he builds on that foundation, strengthens the institute鈥檚 impact and positions the SEI to meet the nation鈥檚 evolving needs.鈥�

Building on a Successful Legacy

Brown succeeds Paul Nielsen, who joined the SEI in 2004 and became its director and CEO later that year. Nielsen has guided the institute through聽more than two decades of technological change, institutional growth and expanded mission responsibility.

鈥淚t has been an honor to serve the SEI and to work alongside the individuals and leaders committed to securing our nation through advances in software, cybersecurity and AI,鈥� Nielsen said when announcing his transition. 鈥淪EI鈥檚 strength has always been its ability to evolve as technology and national needs change, and I am confident the institute will continue to lead with impact and purpose in the years ahead.鈥�

Nielsen will remain engaged through the leadership transition. Carnegie Mellon will celebrate his service and contributions to the SEI and the nation at a reception in early 2027, with details to come soon.

With a聽renewed federal mandate, a record of national impact and new leadership, the SEI enters its next chapter prepared to help the nation realize the potential of emerging technologies while ensuring that the software, cybersecurity, AI and autonomous systems supporting critical missions remain secure, reliable and ready to perform.

鈥淭he SEI鈥檚 impact rests on the extraordinary expertise of its people and the trust it has built across government, industry and academia,鈥� Mayer said. 鈥淲ith Jason鈥檚 leadership, the institute is well positioned to build on its success, deepen its connections across Carnegie Mellon and continue its legacy of leadership in service to the nation.鈥�