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.
The Senate this week freed contractors from a mandate that would have forced the government to hang on to 3% of their payments, a requirement that was intended as leverage to force tax cheats to pay the government. The initial bill was passed in 2006. For several years lawmakers pushed back the date of implementation to Jan. 1, 2012. On Nov. 10, the Senate unanimously repealed the law as part of a vote on the veterans jobs bill.
The looming Senate debate on the fiscal 2012 defense authorization bill is likely to include an emotional battle over whether to make the chairman of the National Guard Bureau a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and others plan to amend the bill with a provision that would elevate the commanding general of the nation’s reserve force. Guard advocates say they have gathered enough potential votes to allow the Guard chief to climb the military ranks.
