Cmdr. Kathleen McGrath joined the Navy in 1980 and was one of five women, including Michelle Howard, Maureen Farren, Ann O’Connor, and Grace Mehl, to be the first woman commanding officers of combatant ships in the U.S. Navy. McGrath was deployed to the Western Pacific, the Persian Gulf, and the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. McGrath commanded the rescue and salvage ship USS Recovery (ARS 43) in 1993 and 1994. In 1998, McGrath became the first woman to command a frigate when she became the commanding officer of USS Jarrett (FFG 33).

Last Updated: 29 March 2023