Spevak appointed interim CEO of Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial

Marshall Spevak has been appointed to serve as interim chief executive officer of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, according to a Thursday announcement from its board.

Spevak succeeds recently retired CEO Phil Rowan and will oversee operations as the ship heads into its historic drydocking project in early 2024.

A trustee of the battleship since 2016, Spevak has served as chairman of the board of trustees for the past three years. He joins the battleship full-time, taking a leave of absence as a partner at the Advocacy & Management Group — one of Trenton’s top government relations and communications firms. He plans to return to AMG later in the spring of 2024 upon the ship’s return to Camden and the appointment of a permanent CEO.

“It’s the honor of a lifetime to step into this role, especially at this moment in the battleship’s history,” Spevak said. “I look forward to helping the battleship navigate the drydocking process — the most significant project since she returned to the shores of New Jersey 23 years ago. It is critical that we keep the Battleship New Jersey afloat as both a museum and memorial for future generations.”

“Marshall has long been a standout leader on the battleship — helping us to successfully navigate multiple crises that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, loss of funding and more,” Dennis Levitt, chairman of the board of trustees, said. “The board welcomes Marshall’s willingness to take on the role of CEO as the battleship embarks on her first drydocking since she was decommissioned. No one is more prepared to help pilot this complex project than Marshall,” he said.

With 19 Battle Stars, the New Jersey is the most decorated battleship in the 248-year history of the United States Navy. Berthed on the Camden Waterfront along the Delaware River, the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for tours.