Lt Gen Susan Coyle, an officer of more than three decades’ standing, will become the first woman to lead the Australian army.
Coyle has been announced as the new chief of army, with her term beginning in July.
Announcing her appointment, the defence minister, Richard Marles, described Coyle as a “standout candidate” to lead the army.
The current chief of navy, V Adm Mark Hammond, has been promoted to chief of defence force, replacing the retiring Adm David Johnston.
Sign up for the Breaking News Australia emailAnnouncing the appointment, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Hammond “has had a distinguished career spanning 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy”.
“V Adm Hammond will continue to bring valuable insight to the role of chief of the defence force.”
Hammond joined the navy in 1986 as an electronics technician before becoming a naval officer two years later. He served on the Collins class of submarines, commanding HMAS Farncomb across the Indo-Pacific, and was posted as an assistant naval attache in Washington DC.
Hammond became head of navy in July 2022, overseeing work on the multibillion-dollar Aukus nuclear submarine deal.
“This is probably the most humbling moment in my career,” he told reporters. “I certainly look forward to serving with and for Australia’s sailors, soldiers and aviators as their chief of defence force through the challenging times ahead.”
Rear Adm Matthew Buckley, the current deputy chief of navy, will be appointed on promotion to replace Hammond as chief of navy.
Coyle, who joined the army reserve in 1987, graduated as an officer from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992.
She held positions as head of information warfare, commander of Joint Task Force 633 (in the Middle East) and commander of Task Group Afghanistan.
Coyle has commanded troops on deployment to Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
In July 2024, Coyle was appointed chief of joint capabilities, responsible for the ADF’s cyber and space commands, as well as information warfare. Coyle holds postgraduate master’s degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the US Army War College. She has three children with her husband, whoalso serves in the military.
Marles said Coyle’s elevation to lead the army was “a deeply historic moment”.
“Susan said to me: ‘You cannot be what you cannot see.’
“Susan’s achievement will be deeply significant to women who are serving in the Australian defence force today and women who are thinking about serving in the Australian defence force in the future.”
Coyle has previously spoken about the changing nature of the Australian military.
In 2024, she told the ABC that, when she enlisted, just 10% of personnel were women, and the highest ranked female soldier was a colonel.
Today, there are four female three-star generals.
“And there’s plenty more of us,” Coyle said.
“There’s lots of really good women coming through, who have worked really hard, have done all the right types of jobs and I think being recognised. It’s a wonderful place to be.”
Johnston, the current chief of the defence force, will retire in July after more than 48 years in the defence force. Lt Gen Simon Stuart, the current chief of army, will also retire in July.
– with Australian Associated Press
