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.
Major weapons systems largely survived a Pentagon request to shift about $8 billion in military spending, according to a defense analyst. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Congress about the late-June “omnibus reprogramming” request during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee last month. Panetta explained that the logistics of moving fuel into Afghanistan since Pakistan has shut down supply lines and the overall increase in fuel were adding billions to the Pentagon’s bills this year.
As FAA continues to sort out rules for operating UAVs within the U.S., members of Congress are already moving to block the use of weaponized UAVs here. Spurred by reports about local police departments seeking weaponized UAVs, lawmakers of both parties are responding to concerns from their constituents to prevent the possibility that a U.S. citizen could be gunned down from the air.
GUARD CHIEF: President Barack Obama has nominated U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Frank Grass to be the next chief of the National Guard Bureau. If approved by the Senate, Grass will be the first Guard chief to serve a full term as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Grass currently serves as the deputy commander of Northern Command. He is nominated to succeed Gen. Craig McKinley of the Air Guard, who is retiring.
