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.
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) this week seized on a statement by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to press for a quick resolution to the stalemate over the FAA reauthorization bill. On Dec. 19, Boehner called on the Senate to appoint a House-Senate conference committee to come to an agreement on a long-term extension of a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits—rather than passing a two-month extension that the Senate has already approved.
U.S. lawmakers are continuing their support for Israel’s missile defense efforts, providing $236 million in fiscal 2012 for continued development of three programs — an increase of 123% over what President Barack Obama had asked for. The plus-up comes despite a reduction of $21 billion in the overall U.S. military budget, and with lawmakers noting that the request represents a $100 million decrease in funding from the previous year.
“Congress doesn't kill programs, the Pentagon does.” The adage that defense contractors live by may hold true even in an atypical year. In 2011, more than 80 freshmen lawmakers came to Washington to scale back government spending and pledged not to care about their reelection prospects. Individual defense committees did zero out several programs and one committee handed down steep reductions to the Pentagon's largest weapons system, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
