Anthony Albanese reveals new chief of defence in military shake-up

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 02:49, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 02:58, 13 April 2026 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled a significant reshuffle at the very top of the Australian Defence Force, naming Vice Admiral Mark Hammond as the nation’s next Chief of the Defence Force. Vice Admiral Hammond will take over the ADF’s most senior role in July, replacing long‑serving Admiral David Johnston, who will retire after nearly five decades in uniform. The shake‑up also delivers a historic first for the Army, with Lieutenant General Susan Coyle set to become the first woman ever to lead Australia’s land forces. Vice Admiral Hammond, the current Chief of Navy, brings four decades of naval experience to the role, having served in surface ships, submarines and senior fleet commands.  Appointed Chief of Navy in 2022, he has played a central role in shaping Australia’s future maritime force, including the nation‑defining AUKUS plan to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines. In another landmark move, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will step into the role of Chief of Army, replacing Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, who also retires in July. Lieutenant General Coyle’s appointment marks a historic moment for the ADF.  She enlisted as a soldier in the Army Reserve in 1987 and rose through the ranks to command at every level of warfighting, from Afghanistan to the Middle East.  Anthony Albanese (pictured) announced the major shake up to the Defence Force on Monday  Mark Hammond (pictured) has been named as the nation’s next Chief of the Defence Force Her previous roles include Commander Forces Command, Head of Information Warfare and Chief of Joint Capabilities. She will become the first woman to command the Australian Army in its 124‑year history. Lieutenant General Stuart, the first Chief of Army to begin his career as an enlisted soldier, was praised for preparing the service for major structural and cultural reform under the National Defence Strategy. The Navy will also see new leadership, with Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley promoted to Chief of Navy.  A submariner by background, Rear Admiral Buckley previously commanded HMAS Collins and the Submarine Force and served as Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability before becoming Deputy Chief of Navy in 2025. The Government said his experience uniquely positions him to lead the Navy through the AUKUS era and a broader surface fleet expansion. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.