Australia appoints a woman, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, to lead its army, a first

On April 8, 2026, the Australian government appointed Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as the head of the army, making her the first woman to hold this position in 125 years. At 55 years old, she joined the armed forces in 1987 and has held various roles throughout her career. This appointment is part of a broader effort to rebalance the armed forces, where women currently make up 21% of personnel and 18.5% of command positions, with a goal of reaching 25% by 2030.