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.
A Senate panel passed a homeland security spending bill Tuesday that provides $7.9 billion for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an increase from fiscal 2011 fueled in part by a $1.50 increase in passenger-paid security user fees.
The fiscal 2012 budget may begin to take shape this week when Congress returns from the August recess, but it’s unlikely to offer near-term certainty or good news. Analysts are already predicting that with just a few weeks left in the fiscal year, Congress will have to pass a continuing resolution that keeps funding at fiscal 2011 levels for some period of time.
COMPETITION BOOSTER: The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) is pressing the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee to make sure the U.S. Air Force competitively bids the UH-1N replacement program known as the Common Vertical Lift Support Program. In an Aug. 25 letter to Sens. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Pete Sepp, executive vice president of the nonprofit NTU, says sole-sourcing the contract to Sikorsky for the UH-60 would not necessarily save money.
