She was one of the group of five women, including Michelle J. Howard, Maureen Farren, Ann O'Connor, and Grace Mehl, chosen to be the first female combatant commanders in the United States Navy.

[5][6][2] In the spring of 2000, it was just six years after Congress revoked rules prohibiting women from serving on combat aircraft and warships.

On March 31, 2000, McGrath commanded USS Jarrett and set to sea from San Diego, California with a destination of the Persian Gulf region.

Its goal was to hunt boats suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of United Nations sanctions.

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