Assumes command of USS Recovery

In 1993, Kathleen McGrath assumed command of the rescue and salvage ship USS Recovery (ARS 43), marking her first tour as a commanding officer. Available sources document the year of this milestone but do not specify an exact month or day, so the date is treated as approximate.[2][6]

By 1993, McGrath had completed diverse sea tours and advanced education, including a master’s degree in educational management from Stanford University.[2][8] Her assignment to USS Recovery placed her in charge of a specialized support vessel responsible for rescue, towing, and salvage operations—critical, if less visible, components of naval readiness. She commanded Recovery in 1993 and 1994, demonstrating her ability to lead crews and manage complex technical missions at sea.[2][6]

This command tour was historically significant as an early indicator that women officers could successfully hold seagoing command roles even before combatant ships were fully opened to women.[6] While Recovery was not a front‑line combatant, McGrath’s performance there helped build confidence among senior leaders that women could handle the demands of ship command, thereby strengthening the case for expanding opportunities after policy changes in the mid‑1990s.

For women’s history and naval leadership, her command of USS Recovery represents the practical, day‑to‑day groundwork that precedes headline‑making firsts. It shows McGrath proving her competence and resilience in a demanding operational environment, paving the way for her later selection to command a frigate and a U.S. Navy warship.[2][6]