Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will become Chief of the Australian Army in July, the first woman to hold this position in the country's history. She will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stewart, who currently serves as Chief of the Joint Force Staff.

Defense Secretary Richard Marles described the appointment as a "profoundly historic moment."

Susan Coyle, 55, joined the military in 1987. During her career, she has participated in operations in the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, and held a number of leadership positions. Coyle also has experience in cyberwarfare.

The appointment comes amid a major transformation of the Australian military, which is expanding its arsenal of long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to Reuters, women currently make up approximately 21% of the Australian Defence Force. The Australian government has set a goal of increasing this figure to 25% by 2030.