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
Joint Discussion on the Future of Fighters
12:11 November 10, 2026
The concept of interoperable combat aircraft took center stage this year at the International Fighter Conference held in Munich, where Hungary was represented by Brigadier General Csaba Ugrik, Deputy Director of Staff of HDF Defence Staff.
V4: Joint Planning, Joint Thinking, Joint Battlegroup
13:39 November 9, 2026
The second meeting this year of the chiefs of defence of the Visegrád Four – including General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff – was held in Bratislava. The parties reviewed the capabilities of the Polish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian armed forces, preparations for the activities of the V4 EU Battlegroup due to be reactivated in 2028, and, in addition to evaluating this year’s exercises, also discussed the joint training events planned for the next two years.
Multinational Capabilities in One Formation
12:06 November 9, 2026
The execution of joint tasks during Exercise Brave Warrior 2026 involved the military equipment of the Hungarian Defence Forces as well as Italian and Croatian combat vehicles. To strengthen the combat readiness of the multinational formation conducting the exercise, the HDF 25th Armored Brigade participated in the exercise with Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks, PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, Gidrán tactical vehicles and BTR infantry fighting vehicles.
In the Land of the Brave
12:01 November 9, 2026
During the validation Exercise Brave Warrior 2026-2, the HDF 25th Armored Brigade has demonstrated its preparedness as part of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group, the core capability of which is provided by the 1st Infantry Battalion through the integration of Croatian, Italian and further Hungarian subunits.
Commemoration of WWI Soldiers in Peć
07:59 November 7, 2026
On the occasion of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the personnel of the 35th rotation of the Hungarian Defense Forces KFOR Contingent paid tribute to the soldiers who fell in the First World War at the Austro-Hungarian military cemetery in Peć/Pejë, Kosovo. Prior to the event, Hungarian peacekeepers also tidied up the area around the cemetery to ensure it was orderly and fitting for the November 1 commemoration.
Hungarian-Montenegrin Defence Relations Gain New Momentum
11:41 November 6, 2026
On November 5, Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi welcomed Dragan Krapović, the Montenegrin Minister of Defence in Heroes’ Square. After paying tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the parties held discussions to review the security situation in the Western Balkans, the development of bilateral military cooperation, and current issues relating to NATO and EU integration.
Expanding Cooperation with Qatar
11:56 November 5, 2026
Strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation was the main topic of the professional discussion in Doha between Chief of Defence General Zsolt Sándor and Lieutenant General Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces. At the invitation of his counterpart, the Hungarian military leader paid a two-day official visit to Qatar, where he held discussions with the Qatari Minister of Defence and the chiefs of the service branches.
Security needs to be maintained, not just safeguarded
11:52 November 5, 2026
“Last night in the National Assembly, I explained the reasons for strengthening Hungary’s military contribution to EUFOR Operation ALTHEA,” wrote Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi on his social media page on November 4.
NATO Fuse 2026: Future Allied Battlefield Network Introduced in Riga
12:42 November 4, 2026
The interoperability of communications and information systems (CIS), counter-drone assets and targeting capabilities used by NATO member states was tested in Riga and the nearby Ādaži military training area. Instead of being a traditional military exercise, the NATO Federated Unified Sensing and Effects was a “series of operational experiments” in the last days of October.
Iron Will to the Finish Line
10:48 November 4, 2026
First Lieutenant Zoltán Janota, the physical training instructor (PTI) officer of the HDF 6th Territorial Defence Regiment, demonstrated great perseverance and determination when he successfully completed the IRONMAN 70.3 international triathlon held in October in Poreč, Croatia.