I served with the new army chief. I can confirm she has the right stuff

April 13, 2026 — 5:05pm

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With wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Chinese naval task groups operating closer to Australia, the familiar line that this is our most challenging strategic environment since World War II is starting to feel dated. We are certainly in a more dangerous period.

That is the backdrop to today’s leadership announcements: Vice Admiral Mark Hammond as the next Chief of the Defence Force, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley as Chief of Navy, and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as Chief of Army will lead the ADF through this. Coyle’s appointment stands out. Not just because she is the first woman to lead a service, but because she is the first Chief of Joint Capabilities to step into the role, bringing experience in cyber, space and the enabling elements of how the ADF fights.

I first met Lieutenant General Coyle in the Middle East at Al Minhad in January 2020. The United States was pursuing “maximum pressure” on Iran over their nuclear program, a context that feels familiar again today. At the........

© Brisbane Times