Sydney: Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will become the first woman to lead the Australian Army, marking a historic milestone in Australia’s defence leadership. Her appointment has been confirmed, with her term set to begin in July.
Defence Minister Richard Marles described Coyle as a ‘standout candidate’ for the role. At the same time, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the current Chief of Navy, has been promoted to Chief of the Defence Force, replacing outgoing Admiral David Johnston upon his retirement.
Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley will take over as the new Chief of the Navy following Hammond’s promotion. The changes were also announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who praised Hammond’s long and distinguished 40-year career in the Royal Australian Navy.
There is no higher honour than serving our country.
Today we’re announcing new leadership across the Australian Defence Force.
We thank Admiral David Johnston and Lieutenant General Simon Stuart for their decades of service and leadership.
All Australians owe a debt to those… pic.twitter.com/1bOnK5n5NY
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 13, 2026
Hammond joined the Navy in 1986 as an electronics technician before becoming an officer two years later. His service includes deployments on Collins-class submarines, commanding HMAS Farncomb across the Indo-Pacific, and serving as assistant naval attaché in Washington DC. He became Chief of Navy in July 2022 and played a key role in overseeing Australia’s multi-billion-dollar AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.
Speaking on his new role, Hammond said that it was a deeply humbling moment and expressed his commitment to serving Australia’s sailors, soldiers, and aviators during what he described as a challenging period ahead.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle joined the Army Reserve in 1987 and graduated as an officer from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1992. Over her career, Coyle has held senior leadership roles, including Head of Information Warfare, Commander of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, and Commander of Task Group Afghanistan.
Coyle has led deployments in Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands, and Afghanistan. In July 2024, she was appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities, overseeing cyber, space, and information warfare commands within the Australian Defence Force.
Susan Coyle, a mother of three whose husband also serves in the military, holds postgraduate master’s degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the US Army War College. She previously highlighted that women once made up only 10 percent of the Australian military but noted significant progress in female representation in senior ranks.
Outgoing defence chief Admiral David Johnston will retire in July after more than 48 years of service, alongside outgoing Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, marking a broader leadership transition within Australia’s defence forces.
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