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.
The death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, is setting off a shuffling of committee chairmanships. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is likely to take over as the chairman of the full appropriations committee, leaving a spot open on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is likely to move into that slot, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) tells Aviation Week she is preparing to fill Feinstein’s role as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Fiscal cliff negotiations between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) are in full swing after Boehner reportedly offered to increase tax rates on millionaires. The pair met Dec. 17 for 45 min., but before a deal can be reached, the talks also will have to overcome significant differences regarding entitlement spending cuts and the question of when and how to handle the debt ceiling.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) is likely to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) as the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure aviation subcommittee next year. Larsen is lining up a number of focus areas that he says will “set the table” for the next FAA reauthorization bill. Larsen says he has talked to other Democratic members about committee leadership positions and is preparing for the new role. His congressional district includes Everett, Wash., the home Boeing’s major manufacturing facility.
