Early career Coyle graduated from ADFA with a
Bachelor of Science in 1991 and, following additional training at the
Royal Military College, Duntroon, was
commissioned into the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in 1992. Coyle's early career was marked by a variety of communications appointments, before she was selected as
aide-de-camp to the
Commander Australian Theatre from 1998 to 1999. She then received an exchange posting to the United States in 2000, serving as Brigade Satellite Engineer for the
11th Signal Brigade. Coyle was awarded the United States
Army Commendation Medal for her performance in this role. She returned to Australia in 2001 and was posted to Headquarters
Land Command as SO2 Communications. In 2002, she deployed on Operation Citadel, Australia's contribution to the
United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor, as J6, the staff officer responsible for communications. Coyle was next appointed to the directing staff of the Australian Command and Staff College—which included a three-month stint as Director of Studies – Land—before being posted as Director of Soldier Career Management – Army. In June 2014 Coyle, now a
colonel, deployed to the Middle East as Deputy Commander – Afghanistan in
Joint Task Force 633. As operations in the Middle East transitioned to a
military intervention against the Islamic State, the Australian forces were reorganised and Coyle became Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633. Towards the end of her twelve-month tour, she raised and was the inaugural commander of Task Group Afghanistan (Task Group 633.6). On her return to Australia, Coyle was appointed chief of staff and Director Workforce and Behaviours within the First Principles Review, One Defence Implementation Office, before being seconded to the United States in 2016 to attend the
United States Army War College. She graduated in 2017, leaving the college as a Distinguished Graduate with a Master of Strategic Studies. She also holds a Master in Organisational Development and Strategic Human Resource Management from the
University of New England. Coyle relinquished command of the brigade in December 2019 and, promoted
major general, redeployed to the Middle East as Commander Joint Task Force 633 on
Operation Accordion from January to November 2020. Coyle was the first woman to command the task force, which was responsible for all
Australian Defence Force operations and more than 1,200 personnel in the Middle East region. She relinquished command of the task force to Rear Admiral
Michael Rothwell in November 2020 and, in recognition of her "exceptional performance of duty" in the role, was appointed a
Member of the Order of Australia in the
2022 Australia Day Honours. Following her return to Australia, Coyle was appointed
Head Information Warfare in the Joint Capabilities Group in January 2021. She was next posted as
Commander Forces Command in November 2022. In July 2024, Coyle was promoted to
lieutenant general and appointed as
Chief of Joint Capabilities.
Joint Capabilities Group is responsible for cyber, information and space operations as well as a range of planning, training and logistics functions. This is a major command and made Coyle the first woman to lead one of the Australian Defence Force's war-fighting domains.
Chief of Army On 13 April 2026 Coyle was announced as the next
Chief of Army. She will take up the position in July 2026 following the retirement of Lieutenant General
Simon Stuart and will be the first woman to lead a branch of the Australian Defence Force. ==Personal life==