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
Hungarian Peacekeepers Practiced with Swiss Super Puma Helicopters in Kosovo
13:52 November 2, 2026
The 2nd Maneuver Company of KFOR's Hungarian-led Tactical Reserve Battalion carried out its latest helicopter exercise in close cooperation with Swiss peacekeepers. The training’s primary objective was to further deepen the close cooperation between the nations serving in NATO’s mission in Kosovo, as well as to provide routine in various air transport operations.
Europe’s Defence Readiness in Focus
13:44 November 2, 2026
Attila Varga, State Secretary for Defence Affairs at the Ministry of Defence, attended the 6th European Defence and Security Conference in Brussels on October 29, where the focus was on Europe’s defence readiness, the security of NATO’s eastern flank, and the development of collective military capabilities.
The Strength of the Alliance Lies in Joint Action
13:33 November 2, 2026
Hungarian–Turkish relations are of outstanding importance in the fields of diplomacy, military and defence cooperation. The two countries are linked by historical ties, shared alliance commitments and strategic objectives. This partnership was also symbolized by a ceremonial reception held in Budapest to mark the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, which was attended by General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
Hungarian–Czech Defence Cooperation Further Strengthens
13:28 November 2, 2026
“We have just concluded important discussions with Czech Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna here in Prague,” wrote Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi on his social media page. After reviewing changes in the European security environment, issues relating to the new European security strategy, and the regional and alliance-level defence implications of the Russia–Ukraine war, the two ministers agreed that collective security requires cutting-edge technological solutions and closer cooperation.
Hungarian Success at International Sniper Competition
11:50 October 30, 2026
Staff Sergeant N. P., a soldier at the HDF Special Operations Command, represented Hungary at the KAHLES FINALS 2026 DECADE MATCH international sniper competition, held in mid-October at the Le Arcate shooting range in Italy.
Remembering Heroes, Far from Home
11:44 October 30, 2026
Hungarian soldiers serving at the NATO Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland, paid tribute with a special commemoration to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight.
Joint Procedures, Successful Execution
13:15 October 29, 2026
During Exercise Brave Warrior, the personnel of the 9th rotation of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group, stationed in Hungary, demonstrated their readiness. Thanks to their cohesion and the joint command structure and procedures, the Hungarian-led battlegroup successfully defeated the opposing forces hiding in the trenches of the Bakony Hills.
Much-needed course in military medicine
16:51 October 28, 2026
“Lessons learned in international environment may help the medical work in missions conducted abroad” – emphasized Major Dr (MD) Attila Kiss, Head of Ambulance Department, HDF Medical Centre at the DSTC/DATC course held for surgeons and anesthesiologists treating seriously injured patients, which is run in Hungary already for the third time.
Advanced Surgical Training
14:49 October 28, 2026
“I can say without exaggeration that after every course, we receive at least one message from participants in which they describe how they have saved a life thanks to the knowledge and practical skills they acquired on the course,” emphasised Dr Mark Bowyer, professor of surgery and US director of the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) course. The course was organised jointly by the Hungarian Defence Forces Medical Centre and Semmelweis University and took place for the fifth time.
“Building Tomorrow Starts Today”
12:42 October 28, 2026
“The lessons learned from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are clear: the nature of warfare is changing at an unprecedented pace. Drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and new tactical procedures are fundamentally transforming the battlefield. What is effective today may become obsolete in a few weeks. The race today is to adapt more quickly,” emphasised Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) Admiral Pierre Vandier, who held a press conference with General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff, at the end of his two-day visit.