Based in Washington, Jen managed Aviation Week’s worldwide defense, space and security coverage from 2013 to January 2024.
Prior to taking on the Executive Editor 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.
One of the toughest aspects of making laws is balancing the needs of the federal government while staying true to the voters at home. Such is the case in this year’s fight to maintain the Air National Guard (ANG) and Reserve, the force lending a hand to the active duty military while serving all 50 states.
With negotiations over the nation’s debt and deficit ongoing, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a memo on the matter of across-the-board spending cuts due to take place at the start of the new year that should relieve some anxiety among department personnel. He issued guidance to the Pentagon’s civilian workforce reminding them that sequestration will not be a government shutdown and that workers should still report for duty on Jan. 3.
