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.
Robert Stevens, chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, estimates that the largest U.S. defense company could lay off 10,000 workers if $1 trillion in across-the-board federal budget cuts begin taking place as anticipated on Jan. 2, 2013. The company employs 123,000. Stevens qualified the layoff estimate as crude, but told lawmakers during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that 10,000 was the “best number I can offer.” More than 80% of Lockheed’s business is tied to the federal government — 61% of which is purely defense.
The reduction to the federal budget is set to take place unless Congress agrees to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion or passes a law replacing one already on the books.
Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), a member of the Democratic leadership team, says she is willing to sit down with anyone to discuss how to avoid the possibility of a $1 trillion automatic cut to the federal budget. But she is also prepared to let the penalty known in Washington as sequestration happen.
