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
Coordinated National and Alliance Cooperation at the NATO Crisis Management Exercise
13:59 March 19, 2025
Nations practised coordinated, joint national- and Alliance-level responses to danger and crisis situations similar to the security challenges currently threatening member states, and the related decision-making at the NATO Crisis Management Exercise 2025 (CMX25).
The Hungarian Defence Forces Help!
13:48 March 19, 2025
“Horrible tragedy came upon North Macedonia, where 59 young people lost their lives and at least 150 more got injured due to an explosion at a club early on Sunday”, wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page on 18 March.
Comprehensive Logistic System Exercise
11:16 March 19, 2025
Under the name Adaptive Logisticians 2025, the Hungarian Defence Forces recently held a two-week logistic command post exercise encompassing all levels of command and affecting all military organizations. Led by the HDF Defence Staff Logistic Directorate, logisticians of the Hungarian armed forces and the NATO organizations stationed in Hungary were already rehearsing for the upcoming Exercise Adaptive Hussars 2025, one of the most important training events in this year.
The era of revival – ready for homeland defence
13:30 March 14, 2025
“Freedom is not a gift but an inherited treasure that we must protect. In the last few years, you have demonstrated that you are ready to safeguard the skies of Hungary” – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky during a ceremonial staff meeting held on the occasion of 15 March at the HDF 101st Aviation Wing in Kecskemét.
Showing interest in our lessons learned about the Lynx
11:02 March 14, 2025
Experts of the Italian armed forces recently visited Hungary to collect lessons learned in the procurement and operation of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles (IFV). Their visit is a part of the cooperation agreed on last year by Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief of the HDF Defence Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Army.
Defence Forum in Paris
11:35 March 13, 2025
Organized by the French Defence Academy (Académie de défense de l’École militaire) under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum was held between 11-13 March, and also attended by General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
“Show of Force” above Kenyeri
13:28 March 12, 2025
Due to its gigantic dimensions, the C-17 Globemaster III is one of the most important and versatile aircraft in strategic airlift, say the airmen of the Heavy Airlift Wing. The aircraft recently had opportunity to demonstrate its exceptional cargo airdrop capability above the village of Kenyeri.
Hungarian KFOR Contingent Starts Rotation
13:22 March 4, 2025
The rotation of the Hungarian contingent began in the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Following the handover-takeover, the nearly 280-strong new personnel will serve from April to September. The stability of the western Balkans is of significant importance to the Government of Hungary; thus, Hungary has been participating in the largest land mission of NATO, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since the beginnings, and today is among the most significant troop contributing nations.
Croatian-Hungarian Military Logistics Cooperation About to Begin
17:29 March 3, 2025
The delegation of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces’ Logistics Directorate arrived for a two-day visit in Hungary to create a foundation for long-term professional cooperation between the two nations. The geographic proximity, the joint involvement in NATO operations and the parallel armed forces development justify the discussion of the lessons learned. The two partners are planning to harmonize some of their standard operating procedures as well.
Forward Defence – Ambassadors of Peace
13:31 March 3, 2025
“Together we are not just soldiers but we’re also ambassadors of peace and cooperation, too” – said Major General Tibor Králik at the event of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (NATO FLF BG) held to mark the rotation of Croatian and Italian troops who have completed their service in Hungary.