Changes In Australian Defence Force Leadership

AUSTRALIA’S Defence Force (ADF) is set to receive new leadership as current chief of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond to be appointed as the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) while Chief of Joint Capabilities, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will take over the Australian Army’s top job. Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, the current Deputy Chief of Navy will be appointed on promotion as the Chief of Navy.

After the appointments were made by prime minister Anthony Albanese, these statutory appointments will be presented to the Federal Executive Council and subject to the Governor‑General’s consideration and approval,to take effect from July 2026 if approved.

VAdm Hammond has had a distinguished 40-year career, serving onboard frigates, submarines and later commanding submarines and the Australian Fleet. Appointed as the Chief of Navy in 2022, he is the first RAN Recruit School and ADF Academy (ADFA) graduate to do so, and only the second submarine commanding officer to take helm of the RAN.

Having served extensively in Collins-class submarines, VAdm Hammond also gained international experience in French, British and US nuclear attack submarines alongside Dutch conventional submarines. During his command of Collins-class submarine HMAS Farncomb, he was involved in submarine operations across the Indo-Pacific. As CDF, “VAdm Hammond will continue to bring valuable insight to the role of the Chief of the Defence Force – including towards Australia’s acquisition of conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines through AUKUS, and the delivery of Navy’s future surface combatant fleet”, an Australia Department of Defence (DOD) statement read.

Lt Gen Susan Coyle is set to be the first female general to command the Australian Army, with the next Chief of Joint Capabilities to be appointed in due course. She was appointed Chief of Joint Capabilities Group in 2024 as the Chief of Space and Cyber and Chief of National Support.  Lt Gen Coyle has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic level in a variety of command, and Army and Joint staff appointments. She has commanded at every rank, including Commander Forces Command, Commander Joint Task Force 633 (CJTF633), Commander 6th Brigade, Commander Task Group Afghanistan and Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment, seeing operational service in Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East. 

RAdm Buckley has served in Oberon and Collins-class submarines, previously commanding HMAS Collins and commanding the Submarine Force. He was also the Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability at the Australian Submarine Agency, before becoming Deputy Chief of Navy in January 2025.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:AUS DOD)