Stephen Blanchette, Jr. works for the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He manages all SEI technical support to the software development effort on the Future Combat Systems program. He also works to improve acquisition and management practices for all Army software-intensive systems through the Army Strategic Software Improvement Program initiated by the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology.

Mr. Blanchette has more than 20 years of experience in the defense industry in a variety of engineering and management positions. He has written software or managed software development for a variety of Army systems, including the AH-64A Apache and AH-64D Longbow Apache, a portable Milstar terminal system and the Bradley family of vehicles including the M2A3 and M3A3 BFIST. He has published several articles in technical and military journals as well as several technical reports for the SEI.

Mr. Blanchette earned his Master of Arts in Diplomacy from Norwich University and his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.