Based in Washington, Jen manages Aviation Week’s worldwide defense, space and security coverage.
Prior to taking on her current role, Jen was Aviation Week's Congressional Editor. Jen came to Aviation Week in March 2011 from Politico, where she covered the intersection of defense and politics. She also worked as a reporter and editor for Defense Daily, Inside the Army, The Other Paper and The Columbus Dispatch.
Jen received a Master’s degree in journalism as a Kiplinger Fellow at the Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from the University of Michigan.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), were presented with a challenge at the start of 2012: get their parties to agree to cut $1.2 trillion from the budget and deal with a series of tax extensions. Failing meant a likely recession caused by inaction, and election-year inertia only raised the stakes.
When former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee as the president's choice to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, look for him to be grilled about his past statements on Iran, Israel and maybe even his views about sexual orientation. But former colleagues in the Republican Party are also likely to take him to task for his support of downsizing the U.S. nuclear force.
Warning that a looming trio of budget disasters would hollow the military and devastate readiness, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has asked the military to begin to prepare for one of them—sequestration. “We really have no choice but to prepare for the worst,” Panetta told reporters during a Jan. 10 news briefing.
