Battleship Board of Trustees Names Marshall Spevak as Chairman

Longtime Battleship Board Member Dennis Levitt named Vice Chair

(Camden, NJ) — Last night, in the Officers Wardroom on the deck of the Battleship New Jersey, the Board of Trustees of the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey, Inc. elected Marshall Spevak as its new Chairman of the Board and Dennis Levitt as its Vice-Chair. Spevak succeeds Steve Sheenan, a Battleship Veteran from the Vietnam era and a member of the USS New Jersey Veterans, Inc. Levitt succeeds Spevak, who was the Vice-Chair for the past two years.

“Serving as Chairman of this historic Battleship is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Spevak. “Every day, working with our talented professional staff and volunteers, I will strive to uphold the dignity of the thousands of sailors who served on board while providing an educational and engaging experience for all visitors. Maintaining the Battleship as a world-class museum and memorial and planning for her future on the Camden Waterfront will be among my top priorities as Board Chair.”

Built just across the river in the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, with 19 Battle Stars, the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) is the most decorated Battleship in the 244-year history of the United States Navy. Commissioned four times, the BB-62 served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf War before she was decommissioned for the final time in 1999.

“I’m gratified to once again be serving in a senior leadership position on the Battleship Board, and I thank my colleagues for electing me to this position,” said Dennis Levitt. “Working with our staff and volunteers, I will continue to strengthen our educational programs so that the next generation of South Jersey children can look to the Battleship as a valuable learning and historical tool.”

“Marshall and Dennis have been integral members of the Board of Trustees these past years who bring different perspectives to the table and I’m grateful for all their past contributions to the ship and all that they will do,” said Phil Rowan, CEO and Executive Director of the Battleship New Jersey.

Spevak has served on the Board of Trustees for the past four years and Levitt — a former Board Chair — has served for 15 years and will continue to serve in his role as Chair of the ship’s Curatorial & Education Committee. Spevak is the youngest person to ever serve on the Board of Trustees, and the youngest person to ever serve as Board Chairman.

Spevak, a Camden County native, is a Vice President of Public Affairs at MWWPR — one of the country’s largest independent public relations agencies. He has long worked on behalf of veterans and veterans causes. From 2003-2015 he was Co-Chair of the Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner for our Troops in South Jersey and was named Citizen of the Year by the Jewish War Veterans of New Jersey in 2005. For his efforts to raise funds and awareness for veterans causes in South Jersey, he was awarded the New Jersey Civilian Meritorious Service Medal and the New Jersey Civilian Commendation Medal from The Adjutant General of New Jersey along with the MLK, Jr. Freedom Medal from Camden County. He lives in Cherry Hill with his wife Andrea.

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Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey. Inc.

The Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey. Inc. (Home Port Alliance) is the organization responsible for the restoration and management of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, our country’s largest and most decorated Battleship. The Home Port Alliance is a private non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. We are a unique blend of history, education, entertainment, and hospitality. While historic preservation and restoration are key missions, exhibition and tourism are integral to funding our goals. This translates to having both a non-profit museum and a fun-filled family attraction.

As a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Battleship New Jersey would not exist without the support of donors and volunteers. It is because of the generosity of individuals, corporations and the public sector that we can continue to maintain the ongoing restoration, preservation and educational programs that take place on board the ship.