Lt Gen Susan Coyle, an officer of more than three decades standing, will become the first woman to lead the Australian army.

Coyle has been announced as the new chief of army, with her term beginning in July.

Announcing her appointment, the defence minister, Richard Marles, described Coyle as a “standout candidate” to lead the army.

The current chief of navy, V Adm Mark Hammond, has been promoted to chief of defence force, replacing the retiring Adm David Johnston.

Rear Adm Matthew Buckley, the current deputy chief of navy, will be appointed on promotion to replace Hammond as chief of navy.

Coyle, an army reserve soldier since 1987, graduated as an officer from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1991.

She held positions as head of information warfare, commander of Joint Task Force 633 (in the Middle East), and commander of Task Group Afghanistan.

Coyle has commanded troops on deployment to Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

In July 2024, Coyle was appointed chief of joint capabilities, responsible for the ADF’s cyber and space commands, as well as information warfare. The mother of three, whose husband also serves in the military, holds postgraduate master’s degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the US Army War College.

Marles said Coyle’s elevation to lead the army was “a deeply historic moment”.

“Susan said to me: ‘you cannot be what you cannot see’.

“Susan’s achievement will be deeply significant to women who are serving in the Australian defence force today and women who are thinking about serving in the Australian defence force in the future.”

Coyle has previously spoken about the changing nature of the Australian military.

In 2024, she told the ABC that when she enlisted, just 10% of personnel were women, and the highest ranked female soldier was a colonel.

Today, there are four female three-star generals.

“And there’s plenty more of us,” Coyle said.

“There’s lots of really good women coming through, who have worked really hard, have done all the right types of jobs and I think being recognised. It’s a wonderful place to be.”

Johnston, the current chief of the defence, will retire in July after more than 48 years in the defence force. Lt Gen Simon Stuart, the current chief of army, will also retire in July.