Susan Coyle named first woman chief of Australian Army; Mark Hammond to lead Australian Defence Force
Canberra, April 13. Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, a veteran officer with more than three decades of service, has been appointed as the first woman to lead the Australian Army, with her tenure set to begin in July. Announcing the decision, Defence Minister Richard Marles described Coyle as a “standout candidate” and called her elevation a historic milestone, The Guardian reported.
In a parallel reshuffle, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the current head of the navy, has been promoted to Chief of the Australian Defence Force, replacing the retiring Admiral David Johnston. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Hammond’s 40-year naval career and said he would bring valuable insight to the top military role.
Hammond joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1986 as an electronics technician before commissioning as an officer. He served aboard Collins-class submarines, commanded HMAS Farncomb across the Indo-Pacific, and later worked as an assistant naval attaché in Washington, DC. Since becoming navy chief in July 2022, he has overseen key developments including work related to the AUKUS nuclear submarine programme.
Calling the appointment “the most humbling moment” of his career, Hammond said he looked forward to serving Australia’s sailors, soldiers and aviators through challenging times ahead. Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, currently deputy chief of navy, will be promoted to succeed Hammond as navy chief.
Coyle began her military journey in the army reserve in 1987 and graduated as an officer from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992. Over the years, she has held senior roles including Head of Information Warfare, Commander of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, and Commander of Task Group Afghanistan. She has also led deployments in Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
In July 2024, Coyle was appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities, overseeing the ADF’s cyber, space and information warfare commands. A mother of three whose husband also serves in the military, she holds postgraduate degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the US Army War College.
Highlighting the broader significance of her appointment, Marles quoted Coyle as saying, “You cannot be what you cannot see”, noting that her achievement would inspire women currently serving and those considering a military career.
Coyle has previously reflected on the changing profile of the force, recalling that when she enlisted, women made up just 10 percent of personnel and the highest-ranking woman was a colonel. Today, the ADF has four female three-star generals – a sign, she said, of steady progress.
Admiral Johnston will retire in July after more than 48 years of service, while the current Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, is also set to step down.
