The cause was lung cancer, said her sister, Peggy McGrath.

 Captain McGrath became commander of the frigate Jarrett, a 453-foot warship, with a 262-member crew, in the spring of 2000. She took the helm six years after Congress lifted rules that prohibited women from serving on combat aircraft and warships.

 Captain McGrath guided the ship to the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf, where the crew hunted boats suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of United Nations sanctions.

A 1975 graduate of California State University at Sacramento, she worked for the United States Forestry Service until 1980, when she decided to follow in her father's footsteps and join the Air Force. But the recruiter was out to lunch, and she was won over by a Navy recruiter who promised her overseas travel.

Captain McGrath had deployments in the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas.

In 1990, she participated in the operation intended to protect Saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

She also commanded the rescue and salvage ship Recovery in 1993 and 1994.

"Kathy was an accomplished surface warrior and leader," said Rear Admiral Harry Ulrich, director of surface warfare.

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

During her career, Captain McGrath was honored with many medals, including the Legion of Merit and four Meritorious Service Medals.

In addition to her sister Peggy, she is survived by two other sisters; two brothers; her husband, Lieutenant Commander Gregory Brandon, who is retired; their children, Nicholas and Clare; and her parents, James and Martha McGrath of Sequim, Washington.

On  Thursday,  September  26, 2002 of McLean, Virginia. Beloved wife of Gregory H. Brandon; mother of Andrew Nicholas and Clare Elizabeth Brandon; loving daughter of Colonel and Mrs. James H. McGrath,  USAF (Ret.) of Sequim, Washington; sister of Michael McGrath, Patricia Redmann, Maureen Cotner, Peggy Lynde, and Daniel McGrath. Mass of Christian  Burial  at  Ft. Myer Chapel on Monday, October 28, at 12:45 p.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.