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.
Congress approved a $15.85 billion fiscal 2012 budget for FAA in the multi-agency “minibus” spending bill that passed Nov. 17 and was signed into law on Nov. 18. The bill, which passed both chambers before a continuing resolution funding the government expired on Nov. 18, reflects the budget-cutting mood in Washington, slashing funding at a number of agencies, including $924 million out of the NASA budget.
Discussions are under way that could significantly change the prospects for passing the first FAA reauthorization bill since the last one expired in 2007. Lawmakers may remove a toxic labor provision from the FAA bill and offer an amended version as a standalone bill, confirms Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), ranking Democrat of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s aviation subcommittee.
Lockheed Martin may not be happy with the Pentagon’s negotiating stance on the next lot of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, but a key lawmaker is. The Defense Department is refusing to sign a contract for the fifth lot of F-35s until Lockheed agrees to pay for a “reasonable share” of concurrency costs, which result from the overlap between development and production.
