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
Reporting from the U.S.: Flexibility Even in Extreme Conditions
14:27 July 21, 2026
The Hungarian reservists participating in the Ohio National Guard’s Combat Readiness Exercise 2026 (CRX26) are prepared for even the toughest challenges. The smoke from the wildfires raging in Canada has reached the state of Michigan, causing air quality in the Camp Grayling area to deteriorate dramatically. To protect the soldiers' health, exercise commanders ordered the temporary withdrawal of personnel from the field until the situation stabilizes.
Special NATO Award
14:22 July 21, 2026
A special operations soldier from the Hungarian Defence Forces was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, one of NATO’s highest honours. The award is granted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to military personnel and civilian staff whose outstanding service has contributed significantly to the successful fulfilment of the Alliance’s missions.
Reporting from the U.S.: Everyone Knows the Drill!
10:48 July 20, 2026
Hungarian reservists participating in the Ohio National Guard’s Combat Readiness Exercise 2026 (CRX26) took up their designated starting positions on the wooded terrain of Camp Grayling Training Center. The area spans nearly 147,000 hectares, almost three times the size of Budapest, and is dotted with pine forests.
Euro-Atlantic Commitment
10:45 July 20, 2026
On the sidelines of the Budapest Energy and Security Talks on July 14, 2026, Attila Elek Varga, State Secretary for Defence at the Ministry of Defence, held talks with Javier Colomina, NATO’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy.
EUMA Patrol Pays Tribute to 100-Year-Old Woman
10:23 July 16, 2026
Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán Vörös and fellow members of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) visited a 100-year-old resident of Choratan while conducting patrol duties in the area. The mission representatives were first received at the Mayor’s Office, where they held discussions with local officials about an EUMA initiative aimed at visiting Armenian citizens aged 100 and over living in the Tavush region.
June of Sports in Butmir
13:22 July 15, 2026
In recent times, sports have played a prominent role in the programs of the EUFOR mission in Bosnia. Various international events have not only improved physical fitness but also strengthened cooperation and camaraderie among the participants.
Military Development on Realistic Terms
13:07 July 15, 2026
“In a country where the healthcare, social services and education systems are facing serious challenges, we must not allocate all resources exclusively to military development”, emphasised Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD, Minister of Defence, on July 14 at the Budapest Energy and Security Talks (BESTalks) conference in Budapest. At the prestigious international event, the minister outlined realistic strategies for rebuilding the country's defence sector and industry.
Hungarian soldiers participate in Paris military parade
12:23 July 15, 2026
Soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces also participated in the Bastille Day military parade held in Paris on July 14. The Hungarian unit marching down Champs-Élysées consisted of soldiers of the HDF 32nd Lifeguard Regiment. General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff also observed the ceremonial event.
Reporting from the U.S.: Whirlwind Preparations
12:53 July 14, 2026
On July 12, the Hungarian contingent participating in Combat Readiness Exercise 2026 practiced combat-style embarkation and disembarkation from Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters before beginning exercises in the training area. Members of the Ohio National Guard conducted the training exercise to ensure safe task execution.
Torrent of Medals to Military Athletes
12:47 July 14, 2026
Military athletes of the HDF Sports Company won a number of shiny medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Montreal.