| 1GL | First Generation Language |
| 2GL | Second Generation Language |
| 3GL | Third Generation Language |
| 4GL | Fourth Generation Language |
| 5GL | Fifth Generation Language |
| ACAT | Acquisition Category |
| ADP | Automatic Data Processing |
| AIS | Automated Information System |
| C2 | Command and Control |
| C3 | Command, Control and Communications |
| C3I | Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence |
| COTS | Commercial off the Shelf |
| DARPA | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| DDR&E | Director, Defense Research and Engineering |
| DoD | Department of Defense |
| FIPS | Federal Information Processing Standards |
| HOLWG | High Order Language Working Group |
| IDA | Institute for Defense Analyses |
| IEEE | Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| O&M | Operations and Maintenance |
| OSD | Office of the Secretary of Defense |
| PMI | Program Management Index |
| RDT&E | Research, Development, Test & Evaluation |
| SLAM | Standoff Land Attack Missile |
| SLOC | Source Lines of Code |