Army chief Lieutenant General Angus Campbell will take over as Australia’s most senior military leader, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Monday.
Mr Campbell, who once served as commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, will serve as Australia’s new Chief of Defence.
He will replace Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who has served as Chief of Defence since June 2014. The formal handover will be in July this year.
Mr Turnbull made the announcement shortly before departing for meetings with Commonwealth leaders in London.
“[Angus Campbell] brings leadership and experience to this vital role,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull said General Campbell had proven his skills in his role with the army, as well as his previous position as the first commander of the Coalition’s Operation Sovereign Borders – an ongoing military operation to stop people-smuggling boats from reaching Australia.
General Campbell became known for refusing to comment on “on-water matters” while leading the operation.
When asked by reporters if he would take a more "open" approach with the media in his new Defence role, General Campbell said only that his approach would be "appropriate to the position and to the relationship between the Australian Defence Force and the media."
Mr Turnbull also paid tribute to the outgoing chief, Mark Binskin, who will retire after giving up the role. He praised his management of Australia’s military engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines.
Vice Admiral David Johnson will fill the position of vice-chief.
