WETSU: a BattleshipNJ Podcast

What does it take to bring a battleship back from the dead and then send her into combat? On this episode of WETSU, Battleship New Jersey CEO Marshall Spevak sits down with Captain Dick McKenna, USN (Ret.), the ship's plank owner executive officer.

A 1963 Naval Academy graduate, McKenna served aboard destroyer escorts, an LST, and a frigate before finding himself XO of USS Kirk during the fall of Saigon in April 1975, where his ship helped rescue tens of thousands of South Vietnamese refugees in the days before the city fell. Just seven years later he reported aboard Battleship New Jersey as her prospective executive officer, tasked with helping assemble and train a crew of roughly 1,500 sailors for a ship the Navy had not operated in over a decade. He remained her XO through recommissioning, President Reagan's commissioning ceremony, and her 1983 deployment to Beirut, including the day her 16 inch guns fired in combat for the first time since Vietnam.

McKenna takes listeners inside the barges where the crew first came together, the moment the Marine barracks bombing shook the ship at anchor, and what it felt like on board when the order to fire finally came.

 Only on WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast. 

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A warship is only as capable as the systems that drive her — so who builds, maintains, and modernizes the machinery that keeps the fleet at sea? On this episode of WETSU, Battleship New Jersey CEO Marshall Spevak sits down with CAPT Joseph Darcy, Commanding Officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, for a wide-ranging conversation about the engineering backbone of the United States Navy.

A Long Island native, Naval Academy graduate, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Captain Darcy has spent his career at the intersection of naval innovation and fleet readiness — from his early days as a junior officer and first lieutenant aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) during Operation Enduring Freedom, to overseeing the construction of the DDG-1000 and DDG-1001 in Bath, Maine, to leading one of the Navy's most essential shore commands right here in Philadelphia. He also found time to serve a year in Afghanistan, ensuring the safety of forward operating base electrical systems for U.S. forces in-theater.

CAPT Darcy pulls back the curtain on what Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia actually does — from the land-based engineering sites that replicate a destroyer's engine room, to the distance support teams that help forward-deployed ships troubleshoot machinery problems in real time, to the cutting edge of electric propulsion and naval cybersecurity. He also shares what it was like to see New Jersey in drydock up close — from an engineer's perspective.

From family tradition to fleet readiness — meet the engineer helping build the Navy of tomorrow. Join us for another compelling WETSU conversation, tracing a career defined by technical mastery, quiet leadership, and a deep belief that it's always about the people — only on WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast.

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative (ELEC) 825.

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On this episode of WETSU, we go straight into the firepower of the 1980s reactivation era with CDR Mike Holmes (USN, Ret.) — a Battleship New Jersey plankowner who helped bring Big J back to life.

Assigned to USS New Jersey (BB-62) in 1982 as the ship’s Reactivation & Repair Officer, Mike stood at the center of one of the most consequential moments in modern naval history—bringing the nation’s most decorated battleship back to life. Tasked with overseeing critical overhaul and maintenance efforts, he helped prepare the ship to rejoin the fleet under the direction of President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of the Navy John Lehman.

From long days in dry dock to deployment off Beirut, Mike shares candid, unfiltered sea stories—including his firsthand experiences surrounding the aftermath of the Beirut barracks bombing. These are the kinds of stories only a battleship sailor can tell.

Today, as President of the USS New Jersey Veterans Association, Mike continues his service in a different but still meaningful way — leading and preserving the legacy of the ship’s crew for generations to come. Join us for a powerful and deeply personal episode of WETSU.

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative (ELEC) 825.

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The Navy doesn’t sail on firepower alone—so who keeps the fleet fueled, supplied, and ready to fight? On this episode of WETSU, Battleship New Jersey CEO Marshall Spevak sits down with Atlantic City native Rear Admiral Mark “Buz” Buzby, USN (Ret.), for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on one of the Navy’s most under recognized—but absolutely indispensable—missions: sealift, underway replenishment, and logistics. 

From growing up at the Jersey Shore with dreams of life on the salt water, to commanding at sea aboard USS CARNEY (DDG-64) and Destroyer Squadron 31, to leading the two largest maritime organizations in the nation—Military Sealift Command and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD)—Admiral Buzby reflects on a career defined by mentorship, leadership, and service. He also shares the unique significance of commanding a namesake ship tied to one of Battleship New Jersey’s most storied sailors, and sheds light on the often unseen, less glamorous—but critically vital—“non-pointy end” of the Navy that keeps the fleet in the fight. 

From the Jersey Shore to the backbone of America’s global Navy—meet the leader who helped keep the fleet moving. Join us for another compelling WETSU conversation, tracing an extraordinary journey from a Jersey Shore kid to the highest levels of naval and federal service—only on WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast.

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative (ELEC) 825.

Article mentioned: https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2025/july/modern-maritime-service-can-deliver-what-nation-needs

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On this episode of WETSU, host and Battleship New Jersey CEO Marshall Spevak sits down with Rear Admiral Michael A. York, Commanding Officer of Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Weapon Systems Support (WSS), for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, logistics, and the quiet systems that sustain American sea power.

In a compelling discussion with the Philadelphia-based flag officer, Admiral York reflects on a distinguished career at sea and ashore—from a Laundry Officer at his alma mater, the United States Naval Academy, to serving as Supply Officer aboard an aircraft carrier USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-65), to commanding the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School. Along the way, he shares lessons learned from leading sailors, managing complexity, and building trust across the fleet.

Admiral York also offers WETSU listeners an insider’s view of NAVSUP WSS, illuminating the critical role of global supply, sustainment, and replenishment in keeping ships, aircraft, and sailors ready—an often unseen, unrecognized, but absolutely indispensable backbone of fleet operations around the world.

Join us as we open 2026 with another thoughtful and insightful conversation with a senior leader at one of the Navy’s most consequential ashore commands.

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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On this episode of WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast, host and CEO Marshall Spevak sits down with Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phillip Brashear—son of Navy legend Master Chief Carl Brashear, the first Black U.S. Navy Master Diver whose life inspired the 2000 film Men of Honor.

Phillip reflects on his own distinguished military journey, from his early years in the Navy to his transition into the Army, where he became a helicopter pilot and amassed more than 2,600 flight hours during deployments to Bosnia and Iraq.

He shares what it was like growing up as the son of an American icon, the 25th anniversary of Men of Honor, his recent recognition as an Honorary Chief Petty Officer by the MCPON, and his deep commitment to the Battleship New Jersey’s Chief Petty Officer Heritage Academy—now in its 18th year and the largest CPO Heritage Academy for the Naval Reserve in the nation.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with a remarkable leader carrying forward a family legacy of service, resilience, and honor.

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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On this episode of WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast, host and CEO Marshall Spevak welcomes a very special guest: Congresswoman and Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill.

Fresh off her election as New Jersey’s 57th Governor, Governor-elect Sherrill reflects on her journey of service — from the halls of the U.S. Naval Academy, to the skies as a Navy helicopter pilot, to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, and soon, the Statehouse in Trenton.She shares her thoughts on servant leadership, the importance of preserving our history, and how her time in uniform continues to shape her approach to public service.

As a proud Navy veteran, Governor-elect Sherrill understands the legacy of the Battleship New Jersey — a symbol of our state’s strength, our veterans’ sacrifices, and our nation’s naval heritage. 

WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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In this episode of WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast, host and CEO Marshall Spevak welcomes a special guest—Bill Kraus, Co-Founder of Mission BBQ.

With more than 140 locations across 23 states, including several here in New Jersey, Mission BBQ has become a national symbol of patriotism served with a side of authentic, slow-smoked flavor. The company is also a proud catering partner of the Battleship New Jersey.

In this inspiring and wide-ranging conversation, Bill reflects on his early days as one of the first employees at Under Armour and how that experience fueled his entrepreneurial drive to create Mission BBQ. He shares stories behind the brand’s deeply rooted patriotic traditions, his favorite item on the menu, and his passionate support for the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.—a cause close to his heart.

Whether you’ve enjoyed Mission BBQ on board the Battleship or at one of their restaurants nationwide, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the company’s mission, its people, and the values that unite us all.

Special Note: This episode was recorded in early September 2025. On September 17, 2025, Bill’s son, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, age 39, was tragically killed along with three fellow soldiers in a helicopter training accident in the State of Washington. The entire Battleship New Jersey crew extends our deepest condolences to Bill and his family.

To make a donation to the GWOT memorial in Andrew’s honor, please visit: https://www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org/donate/

WETSU: A Battleship NJ Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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In this special episode of WETSU: a Battleship New Jersey Podcast, CEO and host Marshall Spevak is joined by George Leone, President and Chair of Homecoming250, the nonprofit leading the charge in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

George shares the history and exciting vision behind this once-in-a-generation celebration, set to take place across Philadelphia and South Jersey in October and November 2025. From the arrival of Navy ships you’ll be able to tour, to major headline events that will bring our region to life, listeners will get a front-row seat to all the planning and festivities that honor two and a half centuries of naval tradition.

Whether you’re traveling to the region to celebrate, a local looking to explore active-duty Navy ships, or simply someone passionate about naval and American history, this episode has everything you need to know about Navy and Marine Corps 250. Tune in and get ready to be part of history.

For more news and info about the upcoming Homecoming 250 celebrations this Fall, please visit:

https://www.battleshipnewjersey.org/homecoming-250-events/

homecoming250.org

navy.mil/Navy-250

WETSU: A Battleship NJ Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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On this very special bonus episode of WETSU: A Battleship New Jersey Podcast, CEO and Host Marshall Spevak welcomes the 56th Governor of New Jersey and Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guard, the Honorable Phil Murphy.

In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, Governor Murphy reflects on nearly eight years in office and his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He shares stories from his visits with U.S. troops in Afghanistan, overseeing the highest operational tempo in New Jersey National Guard history, and his recent trip to the U.S. 5th Fleet. The Governor also highlights milestone moments, including the commissioning of the USS NEW JERSEY (SSN-796) and his deep admiration for the legendary Battleship New Jersey.

The discussion also explores his newly signed legislation that creates two distinct cabinet-level departments, one dedicated to the National Guard and another focused solely on Veterans Affairs—an historic step for New Jersey.

Don’t miss this engaging bonus episode filled with leadership insights, military history, and even a few surprise moments—listen closely, and you just might hear Governor Murphy embrace the iconic WETSU spirit himself.

WETSU: A Battleship NJ Podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineers Labor Employer Cooperative ELEC 825.

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