Australian PM Unveils Defence Leadership Overhaul, Names ‘First Ever’ Female Army Chief

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has overhauled his country’s military leadership including its “first ever female Chief of Army.”

Albanese announced three major appointments with including the installation of a new Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, which is the highest ranking officer in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and sits below the minister and Defence Department secretary.

Along with Hammond, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will be the incoming Chief of Army, which is the highest rank in the Australian Army and subordinate to the chief.

Coyle, who started her military career as a reservist in 1987, will take over in July from retiring Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.

She will be the first woman to command the force in 125 years.

Coyle has served in a range of senior leadership roles across information warfare, operational command, international deployments, and also played a part in championing better outcomes for Indigenous individuals in the ADF.

“From July we will have the first ever female Chief of Army in the Australian Army’s 125-year history,” Prime Minister Albanese said in a statement.

Vice Admiral Hammond, who has served for around 40 years, will leave his role as Chief of the Navy to become Chief of the Defence Force, replacing Admiral David Johnston who will be retired in July.

Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, a former Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability at the Australian Submarine Agency, will be promoted to Chief of Navy.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said those who had been appointed will make an enormous contribution to the safety of Australia.

“My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Admiral David Johnston who has led the Australian Defence Force for the past two years with enormous impact, implementing some of the most significant and consequential decisions in decades—including Defence’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide, driving AUKUS and the transformation of our Navy, and working with international partners to build our defence relationships,” he said.

The leadership changes come amid new charges against former special forces operator Ben Roberts-Smith, who is contending with five counts of alleged war crimes during his time in Afghanistan.

Further, Admiral Johnston’s position change comes following comments on April 9 where he suggested Australia could deploy a Navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure safe commercial passage in the region.

“I have no hesitation in our ability to work in a Strait of Hormuz-type role,” he said. “But perhaps what is an at least as important question is: where do our priorities lie?”

Australia has been repeatedly criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump for not getting involved in securing the Strait.