Australia on Monday announced Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as army chief – the first time in the nation’s history that a woman will lead the position.
Announcing her appointment, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles described Coyle as an “exceptional candidate” to lead the military, The Guardian reported.
When does Susan Coyle’s term start?
Lt. Gen. Susan Coyle is currently the Chief of Joint Capabilities.
He will become chief of the Australian Army in July 2026, the government said in a statement.
“From July we will have the first ever female army commander in the 125-year history of the Australian military,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
Lieutenant General Coyle replaces Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.
Meanwhile, the current Chief of the Navy, V. Adm. Mark Hammond, was promoted to Chief of the Armed Forces, replacing the outgoing Adm. David Johnston.
Education Susan Coyle
Lt. Gen. Coyle holds three postgraduate master’s degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the United States Army War College and a graduate of Harvard’s Advanced Management Program, according to the Australian Government website.
Lieutenant General Coyle has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic levels and is fortunate to have had many opportunities to command.
Her previous key positions include: Chief of Information Warfare, Force Headquarters, Commander of Joint Task Force 633, Commander of the 6th Brigade, Commander of Task Force Afghanistan and Commanding Officer of the 17th Signal Regiment.
Coyle also commanded troops on deployments to East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East, the Australian government website said.
How many women are in the Australian Defense Force?
According to a Reuters report, Coyle’s appointment comes as the Australian military seeks to increase the number of officers in its ranks. He faces a wave of accusations of systematic sexual harassment and discrimination.
Women currently make up approximately 21% of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) and 18.5% of leadership positions. The ADF has set a target of 25% overall female participation by 2030, the report said.
