Australia appoints female army chief for the first time in history

Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has held several senior command roles over her nearly 40-year military career, including during operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.Australia has announced that its army will be led by a woman for the first time in its 125-year history, as part of a reshuffle of the country’s defence force leadership.Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the current chief of joint capabilities, will become the chief of army in July, the government said in a statement on Monday. She will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, who assumed the post in July 2022.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Australia to halve fuel tax as global energy crisis deepenslist 2 of 3Australia’s post-Bondi crackdown accused of targeting pro-Palestinian voiceslist 3 of 3Australia bans visitors from Iran amid war in the Middle Eastend of listCoyle’s career spans nearly four decades, during which she has held several senior command roles, including during operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.Her appointment comes as the Australian military seeks to boost the number of female officers in its ranks. It is facing a wave of allegations of systemic sexual harassment and discrimination.“From July, we will have the first ever female chief of army in the Australian Army’s 125-year history,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.Defence Minister Richard Marles called Coyle’s appointment a “deeply historic moment”.“As Susan said to me, you cannot be what you cannot see,” Marles said.“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.”Australia’s army is undergoing a major transformation, equipping itself with long-range firepower, drones and other modern combat tools.Coyle, 55, stressed her experience in areas such as cyber-warfare. “This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of command and the trust placed in me,” she said.