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.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is calling on the U.S. to lead an international effort launching air strikes against the Syrian government. “To be clear: This will require the United States to suppress enemy air defenses in at least part of the country,” McCain said during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate on March 5. He urged the U.S. to build an alliance with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey and other “willing allies” in the EU and NATO.
Rep. Norm Dicks (Wash.), who was a tireless advocate for Boeing’s bid to win the U.S. Air Force tanker competition, will retire at the end of this 18th term. “It is my intention to work very hard over the next several months, as the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, to conduct our committee’s hearings and to complete work on all of the [fiscal] 2013 appropriations bills,” Dicks said in a farewell statement.
With the president again proposing to charge a $100-per-flight tax in his budget request to Congress, lawmakers are again mobilizing to say no. The leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), circulated a letter to President Barack Obama, which scored 195 signatures. “Imposing a $100-per-flight fee on commercial and general aviation is the wrong approach, and we respectfully request that you abandon this idea once and for all,” the lawmakers write.
