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.
SASC MARK: The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously amended its defense authorization bill for fiscal 2012 on Nov. 15, cutting an additional $21 billion out of the bill it passed earlier this year. The new bill also changes provisions regarding military detentions that President Barack Obama had opposed. Although senators had predicted the full Senate would begin debate on the bill before Thanksgiving, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters that consideration is likely to slide until after the holiday break.
The FAA’s Next Generation air traffic control system is flying past steep cuts levied on many other government programs. The House and Senate this week are poised to consider an FAA spending bill for fiscal 2012, signed off on a by a conference committee, that provides about $800 million for core NextGen programs.
In the midst of doom-and-gloom predictions about prospects for the FAA reauthorization bill, there is also some movement toward an agreement. The leaders of the House and Senate transportation committees met yesterday to discuss how a “pre-conference” to resolve outstanding issues between the two versions of the bill should proceed. “We directed our staffs to begin again and come back to us on the 30th,” of November, said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House panel. The current extension expires Jan. 31, 2012.
