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 House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee is increasing funding for aviation security slightly, providing $5.2 billion for fiscal 2012, but it whacks $16.1 million from accounts to buy full-body scanners. The lion’s share of that money, $4.2 billion, provides for screening operations. Aviation security receives slightly more than $1 billion.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is withdrawing a controversial amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill, saying it might have bogged down conference negotiations on the current authorization that expires May 31. Shuster billed his amendment as an attempt to improve FAA rules and increase safety, but opponents charged that it would have made it harder for the FAA to construct safety rules, such as those being put in place in response to a Colgan Air crash in 2009.
After more than a decade of pursuing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are indicating that the Pentagon’s biggest weapon program might need an understudy. “It seems to me [prudent that] we at least begin considering alternatives,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said during a hearing May 19, after hearing that current estimates show the program’s development and sustainment are unaffordable.
