Susan Coyle to become first woman army chief, Mark Hammond to lead ADF
Updated ,first published
New defense force chief Mark Hammond said the navy, promoted in a major military reshuffle that included the appointment of the country’s first female chief of staff, was ready to deploy a ship to the Strait of Hormuz.
The leadership change comes as the government prepares to publish a new defense strategy and spending plan this week that will include up to $5 billion in extra funding for drones and other unmanned systems over the next 10 years.
Hammond, a former submariner who joined the army in 1986 and has led the navy since 2022, will take over in July following the resignation of current Defense Force chief David Johnston after two years in the role.
Hammond told reporters that the navy was “absolutely” capable of assisting with operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite widespread claims that Australian warships were not equipped for the age of drone warfare.
“We currently have 10 surface fighters, 8 of which are at sea today. Our navy is ready as always,” he said.
“They are equipped with one of the most advanced radars in the world… and some of the most advanced missile and point defense systems in the world. Are they capable of carrying out the mission as Admiral Johnston said last week? Absolutely.”
Hammond continued: “The issue of contribution is something that the Australian government will consider if there is a request, and there has not been such a request yet.”
Susan Coyle, the current head of joint capabilities, will replace Simon Stuart as chief of staff upon his retirement.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said Coyle’s appointment was “a deeply historic moment that must be reckoned with”.
“As Susan said to me, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see,'” Marles said.
“And Susan’s success will be hugely important to women serving in the Australian Defense Force today, and to women considering serving in the Australian Defense Force in the future.”
Coyle, 55, who joined the Army Reserve as a soldier in 1987 and later held a number of senior roles, is the first woman to lead a branch of the Defense Forces (land, sea or air force).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Hammond had a distinguished career, including 40 years in the navy as a submarine commander.
Marles said Hammond was “at the very heart” of the plan to buy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact and had done an “incredible job” as navy chief since 2022.
Hammond and Albanese built a strong working relationship, including trips to the US together.
Johnston is retiring as expected after being appointed to a two-year term as Defense Force chief in 2024.
Former submarine commander Matthew Buckley will replace Hammond as navy chief.
The government will announce Tuesday that it will spend $12 billion to $15 billion on unmanned and autonomous systems over the next decade; This has increased from $2 billion to $5 billion since the last national defense strategy was published in 2024.
The money will be used to invest in platforms such as the Ghost Shark combat drone and the Ghost Shark, a crewless submarine.
“The war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East underscore the rapid advances in these technologies and the ability of these systems to provide significant asymmetric advantage against larger, more expensive platforms,” Marles said.
Jennifer Parker, a specialist associate at the Australian National University, said Hammond’s appointment reflected the growing importance of the maritime field and the importance of fulfilling the AUKUS pact.
Parker, a former naval officer, said Hammond has strong connections within the U.S. military system, which puts him in a strong position to lead AUKUS forward.
As for Coyle’s appointment as the nation’s first female service chief, he said the move was “long overdue and long overdue.”
Coyle has experience with traditional military platforms as well as space and cyber capabilities, making him well-positioned to learn lessons from modern conflicts, including Ukraine, he said.
Former Defense official Michael Shoebridge said Hammond’s appointment was unfortunate, describing him as “Mr Continuity at a time when the Defense Force needs change and urgency”.
