LIEUTENANT General Susan Coyle, who completed her secondary education at Oxley High School in Tamworth after attending Manila Central School, has been appointed the first woman to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history.

She was this week named the Australian Defence Force’s 42nd Chief of Army.

Lieutenant General Coyle told NSW Department of Education’s Alyssa Terese she was blessed with amazing teachers, who shaped her foundation as a young adult.

“Looking back on my fond memories of attending public schools in NSW, I remember the quality of the teachers equated to the learning opportunities for students,” she said.

Oxley High School Principal Simon Bartlett-Taylor told Alyssa Terese the school community was incredibly proud to celebrate the former Oxley student on her historic appointment as Chief of Army commencing July 2026.

“Lieutenant General Coyle’s journey from Oxley classrooms to one of the highest leadership roles in the Australian Army is an inspiring example of dedication, resilience and service,” he said.

“Her achievements reflect the strength of our Oxley community which supports, challenges and inspires young people to make meaningful contributions beyond the school gates.

“We are immensely proud of our students past and present and the paths they take to positively impact their communities. We know our current students are also on their own paths to greatness.”

Enlisting as a soldier in the Army Reserves in 1987, Lieutenant General Coyle has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic levels and in command roles, including Head Information Warfare, Commander Forces Command, Commander Joint Task Force 633, Commander 6th Brigade and Commander Task Group Afghanistan and Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment.

Lieutenant General Susan Coyle.

Lieutenant General Coyle will be the first woman in our nation’s history to command the Australian Army.

Lieutenant General Coyle, 55, brings to the role more than 40 years of distinguished service, including operational command in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

As Chief of Joint Capabilities, Lieutenant General Coyle has shaped the approach to integration across the joint force, and its engagement with emerging technologies, particularly in space and cyber.

RSL Australia said Lieutenant General Coyle’s appointment reflects exactly the kind of merit-based, capability-led leadership selection the Army, and the broader Defence and veteran community, expect and support.

Lieutenant General Coyle holds three post-graduate masters’ degrees and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Army War College and an alumnus of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for Commander Joint Task Force 633, a Distinguished Service Medal as Deputy Commander JTF 636/Commander Task Group Afghanistan, and a Conspicuous Service Cross as Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment. While posted to the United States, she received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal as the 11th Signal Brigade Satellite Engineer.