QUICKEN LOAN'S JAY FARNER TO BE HONORARY CHAIR OF USS DETROIT COMMITTEE

Jay Farner, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Quicken Loans, Inc. has been named honorary chairman of the USS DETROIT (LCS 7) Blue & Gold Committee.

The committee, formed by the Metropolitan Detroit Council of the Navy League of the United States, will play a key role in supporting the crew and family members of this new Littoral Combat Ship, the ship’s launching and Christening in 2014 and her commissioning in early 2016. 

Farner was chosen by the Navy League due to Quicken Loans’ commitment to hiring veterans and involvement in the community. 

“The USS Detroit Committee will play a key role in supporting the Navy men and women who will form the crew of our city’s namesake ship,” Farner said.  “I am very proud to be selected honorary chair and look forward to supporting the USS Detroit, her crew and their families, not only for the launching and commissioning ceremonies but for many years to come as part of the Navy’s fleet.”

 A previous USS DETROIT (CL 8), a light cruiser, was one of the few ships to get underway during the attack on Pearl Harbor and earned six Battle Stars during WWII.  She was moored with the battleship USS MISSOURI during the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay in 1945.

A Freedom-class littoral combat ship, the new, high-tech USS DETROIT will be a fast, agile ship designed for a variety of missions in coastal waters against submarines, ships and fast surface craft, as well as minesweeping and humanitarian relief.  Capable of open ocean operations, her modular design supports interchangeable mission packages, which will allow the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine warfare, or surface warfare missions as needed.

The new USS DETROIT is being built at the Lockheed Martin Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin.  Mrs. Barbara Levin, wife of Senator Carl Levin, was selected by the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to be the sponsor of the ship.  As sponsor, she fills an important role in supporting Detroit crew members and their families, as well as serving in traditional roles for the ship’s launching and commissioning.