Lieutenant General Zoltán Mihócza
08:02 August 10, 2021Personal data:
Date of birth: 18 March 1962.
Place of birth: Budapest
Marital status: Married, with one child
Education:
1980 - 1986 Minsk Military Academy of Air Defense Missile Engineering, (Minsk, Belarus, USSR), certified radio engineer
1996 - 1997 ADA Officers Advanced Course, El Paso, Texas, USA
2004 - 2005 Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama, USA Master degree – strategic studies
Training Courses Attended:
1999 C-70 Chemical Defense Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2000 I-32 Staff Officer Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2001 C-29 MJLC Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2002 NATO Logistics Course, Aachen, Germany
2007 Senior Leadership Course, George C. Marshall Center, Germany
2008 Defence Policy Course, Defence Academy, UK
2010 GFOAC Senior Leadership Course, NDC, Rome, Italy
Military career:
1986 - 1989 11/7th Air Defense Missile Division, Deputy Commander (Technical), Budapest
1989 - 1992 11th Danube Air Defense Missile Brigade, Maintenance Squadron Commander, Budapest
1992 - 1994 11th Danube Air Defense Missile Brigade, Chief of Maintenance, Budapest
1995 - 1996 11th Danube Air Defense Missile Brigade, Chief of Air Defense Missile Engineering, Budapest
1997 11th Danube Air Defense Missile Brigade, Chief of Military Engineering, Budapest
1998 HDF Meteorological Office, Chief Planning Officer, Budapest
1999 Defense Staff, Military Force Planning Directorate, Modernization Department, Research and Analysis Officer, Budapest
1999 - 2002 NATO Joint Forces Command, Group Headquarters J1/4, Logistics Planning Division, Senior Officer, Verona, Italy
2002 - 2003 MOD-DS, Force Planning Directorate, Modernization Division, Senior Officer in Charge, Budapest
2003 - 2004 MOD-DS, Secretary to the Chief of Integration, Budapest
2005 MOD-DS, Secretary to the Director of the Defense Staff, Budapest
2005 - 2006 MOD- DS, Military Planning General Directorate, NATO and Doctrinal Department, Head of Department, Budapest
2006 - 2010 MOD-DS, Operations and Training Division, Deputy Head of Division, Budapest
2010 - 2011 MOD-DS, Force Planning Directorate, Director, Budapest
2011 - 2013 HDF Office of the Military Representative, Military Representative, Brussels, Belgium
2013 - 2016 HDF Joint Forces Command, Acting Commander, Székesfehérvár
2015 - 2016 EUFOR, Chief of Staff, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2016 - 2018 HDF Joint Forces Command, Chief of Staff, Székesfehérvár
2018 HDF Joint Forces Command, Acting Commander, Székesfehérvár
2019 - Headquarters of the Hungarian Defense Forces, Chief of Staff
Participation in operations:
2000 - 2001 KFOR HQ Pristina, Kosovo
2015 - 2016 EUFOR, Chief of Staff, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Honours:
1994 Officer Service Medal 3rd Class (10 years)
2001 NATO Kosovo Medal 2002 Service Medal for Peacekeeping
2003 Service Medal, bronze grade
2003 Officer's Service Medal 2nd Class (20 years)
2004 NATO Service Medal 2005 Service Medal gold grade
2008 Service Medal decorated with Laurel Wreath
2010 Officer's Service Medal 1st Class (30 years )
2013 NATO Service Medal
2015 Hungarian Cross of the Order of Merit, military section
2016 EU CSDP Service Medal
2017 Migration Crisis Management Service Badge
2018 US Air Force Command Staff College, International Hall of Fame Member
2019 Gyula Sipos Award of the City of Székesfehérvár
Language skills:
English: STANAG 6001 4.4.4.4
Russian: advanced level, military interpreter
NATO: Joint Solutions Needed
12:39 October 22, 2026
“The Hungarian and foreign comrades serving here guarantee and uphold peace in the region through their unique professional expertise,” said Chief Warrant Officer Zoltán Kaszab, Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for Allied Command Operations, during his visit to the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (NATO FLF BG) and the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) in Székesfehérvár on October 20.
Allied Rotary-Wing Aircraft
12:28 October 22, 2026
Tactical formation manoeuvres, manoeuvres to evade fighter aircraft and air defence systems, protection against radio-electronic jamming, convoy escort and motor vehicle blocking: these were among the tasks carried out during the flying phase of the HTIC Multinational Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course in Pápa.
NATO Evaluations at the HDF Air Operations Command and Control Centre
11:16 October 22, 2026
The NATO Technical Evaluations (TECHEVALs) carried out in Medina and Kup are an important milestone in assessing the adequacy of Hungarian military capabilities to meet Allied requirements.
Precision Beneath the Surface
13:26 October 20, 2026
The divers of the HDF 24th ISR Regiment took part in an international professional seminar recently held at Lake Garda in Italy, alongside technical divers and instructors from other nations. During the dives, the soldiers practiced emergency protocols in accordance with the DIR standard (which is regarded as the benchmark for technical diving), the use of various Nitrox gas mixtures, and learnt to use a side-mounted cylinder configuration.
Hungarian Chief Instructor, Multinational Success
13:19 October 20, 2026
For the sixth time, the HDF Pápa Air Base is hosting the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course organised by the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre. Major Balázs Major is the first Hungarian pilot to assume the role of chief instructor on this course, which trains experienced helicopter pilots to become combat tactics instructors. On October 19, the course leaders held a professional development day in Pápa.
Polish-Hungarian, One Blood
14:46 October 19, 2026
The HDF’s Székesfehérvár garrison also took part in the fourth edition of the “Polish-Hungarian, One Blood” national blood donation campaign, which commemorates the solidarity and assistance shown by Poland during the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. At the event, 59 soldiers and defence employees donated blood, resulting in nearly 27 litres being collected. This amount could help save the lives of approximately 117 people.
“You who are still alive, see to it that peace remains!”
14:39 October 19, 2026
“The strength of a nation is demonstrated not only by how it preserves its present, but also by how it honours its past. Respecting our ancestors is a moral and human duty we all share,” said Major General Dr László Drót, commander of the HDF Territorial Defence and Military Augmentation Command, at a ceremony marking the completion of maintenance work at the Holy Spirit Military Cemetery in Székesfehérvár, co-organised by the German War Graves Commission and the Hungarian Defence Forces.
On the Bridge of Trust
13:43 October 16, 2026
On October 14, personnel from the HDF 37th Engineer Regiment welcomed the defence attachés accredited to Hungary at the Damjanich Barracks in Szentes. Diplomats from twelve nations accredited in Budapest reviewed the regiment’s finest assets: following the briefing by the commanding officer, they visited the unit museum, viewed the vehicle fleet, the maintenance workshop and the water purification equipment during a static display. They were able to try out the PTS-M tracked amphibious vehicle, and watched a dynamic demonstration of the PMP pontoon bridge kit.
Future Ambassadors of Peace
13:38 October 16, 2026
The two-day final exercise of the 48th International Military Observers’ Course got underway in Szolnok on October 14. During the examination, the blue-helmet soldiers must demonstrate the knowledge they have acquired over the past three weeks. If they pass and receive their UN-accredited certificate, the path to international peacekeeping missions will be open to them.
Croatian-Hungarian Ministerial Meeting
13:28 October 16, 2026
Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, and Ivan Anušić, Croatia’s Minister of Defence, held a friendly meeting in Lenti on October 15.