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
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.
Spain’s National Day Celebrated in the Spirit of Allied Military Cooperation
10:35 October 15, 2026
Spain’s national holiday also draws attention to the importance of defence cooperation between Hungary and Spain, two committed NATO allies. At a reception held in Budapest to mark the occasion, General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of Defence, represented the Hungarian Defence Forces, further strengthening the significance of military-to-military relations between the two countries.
Much-Needed Discussion
10:31 October 15, 2026
On October 14 in Budapest, Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, Minister of Defence, held discussions with Matthew Whitaker, the US Ambassador to NATO, on the situation in Europe, the most important tasks facing NATO, Hungary’s intentions within the Alliance, and how to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of the GDP.
Joint Learning, Enhanced Drone Capabilities
13:56 October 14, 2026
Led by experts from the HDF NCO Academy, a basic international operational drone course was organised in Hungary for the first time. During this pilot training program, military personnel from nine nations shared their knowledge with one another on topics relating to training and capability development. Following the classroom training, during the second week of the course, the participants carried out on-the-job tasks in the airspace of the Csobánka training area.
German Precision in the Hungarian Military
13:43 October 14, 2026
The German-Hungarian Joint Services Working Group organised bilateral consultations in Budapest across six thematic areas, as part of a series of binational visits at increasingly high levels taking place since September. The delegation also inspected the Hungarian Defence Forces’ military equipment and training aids of German origin.
German Unity Celebrated at Eiffel Art Studios
14:20 October 13, 2026
Alexander Schönfelder, Germany’s Ambassador to Hungary, hosted a reception at the Eiffel Art Studios to mark the Day of German Unity. Also in attendance at the event was General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
If you are not at the table, you are on the menu
14:14 October 13, 2026
“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” And Hungary’s rightful place is at the negotiating table on European security. It was an honour to take part in the Warsaw Security Forum, where, for the first time in a long while, a Hungarian Minister of Defence was once again able to represent the country, Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated on his social media page.
Who will Protect Europe?
14:09 October 13, 2026
Europe must become capable of defending itself independently. To this end, it is not enough simply to rethink the continent’s defence strategy; it is essential to rebuild and modernise the European defence industry, said Defence Minister Romulusz-Ruszin Szendi at the Warsaw Security Forum held on Monday.