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 Air Defense Gunner Advanced Officer Course (Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, USA).
2004 - 2005 US Air Force Command and Staff College (Montgomery, Alabama, USA)
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

We are building the military of the future drawing on our heroes
13:48 May 22, 2025
We, who are building new and combat-ready armed forces in the 21st century, must learn about the performance of Richard Olaf Wulff, this excellent soldier and outstanding military leader, and understand his fate – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the reburial of a towering figure of Hungarian riverine warship service in plot 52 of Fiume Road cemetery on Wednesday, 21 May.

From Bridge Construction to MEDEVAC – full-scale readiness evaluation of combat engineers
19:36 May 21, 2025
Within the framework of Exercise Recent Challenge, the personnel of the Engineer Battalion declared to NATO underwent the Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) process after intensive, weekslong preparations. The nominated personnel of six units not only demonstrated their own professional skills and knowledge but also the interoperability among subordinate subunits of the brigade – in the field, under realistic circumstances.

Fire Blade 2025 – Cooperation has outstanding importance
12:20 May 21, 2025
The international tactical helicopter exercise Fire Blade 2025 has started in Pápa. Already for the third time, the HDF 47th Air Base is hosting this large-scale training event, which is taking place with the participation of rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft of five nations as well as supporting equipment of three nations.

The moment of shattering joy
12:09 May 21, 2025
The Falcon 7X aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force with registration 607 landed at 09:00 on 19 May 2025, carrying aboard the mortal remains of the organizer and General Captain of the Royal Hungarian River Guard Richard Wulff Olaf and his wife, Edina Losonczy, which had formerly been buried in Costa Rica.

Military Pilgrimage: The Way of the Cross Can Be Matched to Human Life
11:48 May 20, 2025
On the second day of the ongoing 65th International Military Pilgrimage, 17 May, Saturday, Catholic Military Bishop Brigadier General Tibor Berta told the military pilgrims starting the way of the cross that the two-kilometre uphill journey symbolises the last trials of Jesus’s suffering, but it can also be matched to our lives.

International Gripen conference in Budapest: effectiveness and safety in focus
11:40 May 20, 2025
The mutual exchange of lessons learned and continuous dialogue are key to the effective and safe operation of Gripen fleets around the world. The representatives of the nations using Gripen tactical fighter aircraft also emphasized this fact at their professional forum, the annual Gripen Users Group (GUG) conference, which was hosted by Hungary this year.

Lourdes: The Sanctuary of Prayer, Conversion and Penance
11:24 May 20, 2025
In the year of hope, let us renew our faith as the “pilgrims of hope” – called us upon Catholic Military Bishop Tibor Berta on the first day of the 65th International Military Pilgrimage on 16 May. The pilgrimage began with the participation of more than two hundred Hungarian soldiers in the underground Basilica of St. Pius X in the town of Lourdes in Southwest France, in the late evening.

Leopards and Lynxes on a collective hunt
14:37 May 19, 2025
A milestone in the history of the Hungarian Defence Forces: for the first time, an armored patrol from Tata and a grenadier platoon from Hódmezővásárhely took part in a joint training event with Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks and Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Evolving cooperation is the first step towards combined-arms capability development. The joint training exercises are to continue this year.

Security and Europe’s defence are paramount
14:27 May 19, 2025
Almost one month before the key NATO Hague Summit, chiefs of defence of the North Atlantic Alliance and then those of the European Union met in Brussels to discuss the security situation in Europe, with special regard to the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Pilgrimage is the Force of Cleansing
11:55 May 16, 2025
More than two hundred Hungarian military pilgrims are participating in the 65th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Southwest France, said Brigadier General Tibor Berta, Catholic Military Bishop, at the holy mass held in the Chapel Notre Dame of the place of worship on 15 May.