Australia gets new military leaders, including first female army chief

SINGAPORE — Australia this week announced three major shifts in military leadership, appointing a new Chief of Defence Force, as well as new leaders of the navy and army.

Vice Adm, Mark Hammond, the current navy chief, will take over as Australia’s top military officer. Rear Adm. Matthew Buckley will replace him as the navy boss. And, in the news that has gotten the most headlines Down Under, Lt. Gen. Susan Coyle will become army chief — the first woman to hold that position.

In announcing the appointments, Defence Minister Richard Marles thanked outgoing defense force chief Admiral David Johnston and looked forward to working with the new leaders.

“It is an honour to confirm these senior appointments to lead the Australian Defence Force. I know that in these roles, each of them will continue to make an enormous contribution to the safety and security of Australia.”

Coyle will start her tenure in July this year, according to a joint announcement from the office of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister and Marles on Monday.

She is the current Chief of Joint Capabilities of the Australian Defence Force, and has deployed to operations in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Timor Leste during her 39-year career in the Australian Army where she has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic level in a variety of command, and Army and Joint staff appointments, according to a news release from Australia’s Defence Department.

Coyle said becoming Australia’s 42nd army chief was an “absolute honour,” and pledged to assume this next appointment with humility and an appreciation for her experiences from her service.

“To this appointment, I bring deep experience across three warfighting domains and operational service spanning all five,” Coyle said. “This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of command and the trust placed in me.”

Over the course of his 40 year career, Hammond has served or commanded aboard frigates and submarines. He has been the Navy’s top officer since 2022. The decision to appoint a submariner as the defense forces chief is not coincidental — as the announcement notes, the role will have oversight of the “acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines through AUKUS, and the delivery of Navy’s future surface combatant fleet.”

Buckley also comes from a submariner background, having served on Oberon- and Collins-class submarines, including commanding the HMAS Collins and the Submarine Force. He previously served as Hammond’s deputy, per the announcement.