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.
Last week the House passed a provision in the fiscal 2013 defense appropriations bill to block the Obama administration from reducing the nation’s nuclear stockpile. The provision, which will eventually have to be reconciled with the Senate, points to a fundamental difference of opinion about how to manage the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
After months of hopefuls sharpening their bids and building teams, a U.S.-wide competition to find sites to test UAV technologies in civilian airspace is about to begin. Officials expect the FAA’s request by the end of July or early August, with awards by the end of the year. Recent legislation requires the FAA to integrate UAVs into the civilian airspace by Sept. 30, 2015, and the six test sites are a key step toward that goal.
WHO’S UP FIRST: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is pleading for consideration of the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill. McCain and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) had hoped the Senate would take up the legislation before the August recess. But then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would first consider a cybersecurity bill on which Democrats and Republicans remain divided.
