Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has been named Australia’s new Chief of Army. She is the first woman to hold this position in the 125-year history of the Australian Army.
The Australian government announced the announcement on Monday. Coyle will take over for Lieutenant General Simon Stuart in July.
Coyle is presently the Chief of Joint Capabilities and has been in the military for almost 40 years, including as a top commander in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called her appointment a significant milestone for the Australian Defence Force.
Richard Marles, the Minister of Defence, also applauded the decision, calling it a “deeply historic moment” and pointing out how important it is for women to be represented in the military.
Coyle’s promotion comes as the Australian Defence Force continues to make changes to its structure, get more women involved, and deal with long-standing issues with workplace culture, such as claims of harassment and discrimination.
About 21% of the Australian Defence Force is made up of women right now, and officials want to see that number go up even more in the next few years.
In addition to Coyle’s appointment, Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley will be in charge of the Navy and Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will be in charge of the Australian Defence Force.
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