Kathleen A. McGrath

Kathleen Anne McGrath (1952 - 26 September 2002) was the first woman to command a United States Navy warship.

Graduated from California State University at Sacramento in 1975. Worked in the United States Forestry Service until 1980 when she joined the US Navy. Deployed to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas.

In the spring of 2000, Captain McGrath became commander of the frigate USS Jarrett. She was appointed to this post six years after Congress revoked rules prohibiting women from serving on combat aircraft and warships.

During her command of the Jarrett, the ship patrolled the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf, hunting boats suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of United Nations sanctions.

Following her tour as commander of the Jarrett, Captain McGrath served at the Joint Advanced Warfighting Unit in Alexandria, Virginia.

She died (aged 50) at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Cause of death was lung cancer. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery: section 66, site 727.

Awards

*Legion of Merit
*Meritorious Service Medal (received 4)

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/kmcgrath.htm
title=Kathleen McGrath, Captain, United States Navy, First Woman To Command An American Warship
publisher=Arlington National Cemetery
accessdate=2007-06-18