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.
An announcement by a group of largely Republican lawmakers about coming legislation to roll back the sting of steep budget cuts by reducing the deficit could come as early as this week. In August, Congress put in place a requirement for lawmakers to find $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction. A Super Committee put in place to find those budget cuts failed, setting in motion a potential cut of the same amount for all government agencies, including an additional $600 billion in defense cuts over the next decade.
Congressional Democrats are waving off the possibility of steep cuts to defense spending in January 2013. According to the Budget Control Act passed in August, defense accounts are in line for a $600 billion hit over the next nine years starting in 2013 — a penalty that will be imposed if Congress fails to agree to $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by that time.
ANOTHER ONE GONE: Michele Flournoy, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy, announced her resignation Dec. 12, citing the need to be with her family. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta praised her as an “invaluable advisor.” Flournoy will stay on until early next year to ease the transition.
