Vice Admiral Mark Hammond to become next Defence chief

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will become Australia’s next Defence chief later this year, while Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will become the next Chief of Army, the first woman to lead one of the armed services.

Vice Admiral Hammond is currently the Chief of Navy and will replace departing Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston when his two-year appointment ends in July.

“Vice Admiral Hammond has had a distinguished career, spending 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy, serving in frigates, and extensively in and later commanding, submarines and the Australian fleet,” Mr Albanese said from Canberra.

“Appointed the Chief of Navy in 2022, Vice Admiral Hammond will continue to bring valuable insights to the role of Chief of the Defence Force, including of course, to Australia’s acquisitions of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines through AUKUS, and through the delivery of the navy’s future sub-surface combatant fleet.”

Lt. Gen Susan Coyle is currently Chief of Joint Capabilities and will replace Lt. Gen Simon Stuart who has been Chief of Army since 2022.

Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Matthew Paul Buckley, will take over as Navy Chief from July, while Air Marshal Robert Chipman will continue as Vice Chief of Defence, and Air Marshal Stephen Chappell will remain head of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The incoming Defence Chief, Admiral Hammond, has declared the Australian Navy can deploy a warship to assist US-led efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if a request is received.

“We’ve got 10 surface combatants right now, eight of them are at sea today. The navy is as ready as it ever has been,” Vice Admiral Hammond told reporters, after being announced as the next CDF.

“They are fitted with one of the most advanced radars in the world … and some of the most advanced missile and point defence systems in the world. Are they capable of performing the mission as Admiral Johnstone said last week? Absolutely.”

“The question of contribution is one for consideration by the Australian government should they receive a request and there’s been no such request as yet.”

More to come...