Susan Coyle Appointed as Chief of Army of Australia

Key facts

• Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has been appointed as the first female commander to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history.
• The appointment was announced by the Defence Minister Richard Marles, with her term as the Chief of Army set to begin in July 2026.
• She currently serves as the Chief of Joint Capabilities Group, where she leads the Space and Cyber Domains and National Support for Defence.
• Her military career spans over three decades, including deployments to Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
• She graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and the Royal Military College (RMC) into the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in 1992.
• Her previous key appointments include Head of Information Warfare, Commander of Forces Command, and Commander of Task Group Afghanistan.
• She has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Conspicuous Service Cross.
• She is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Army War College and an alumnus of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.