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
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky: combat vehicle maintenance, too, has outstanding significance
12:29 March 23, 2026
On 19 March, a combat vehicle repair workshop with an area of 2500 m2 was inaugurated in the Tata barracks of the HDF 1st Armored Brigade, where the maintenance of Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks and PzH 2000HU self-propelled howitzers can be performed on altogether 10 vehicle stands.
Hungarian-Polish cooperation continues unabated in 2026 as well
11:41 March 23, 2026
On 19 March, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed a plan on bilateral military cooperation in Budapest. Colonel András György, Chief of MoD Department for International Cooperation and Colonel Marek Kozera, Defence, Military and Air Attaché, Republic of Poland authenticated with their signatures the program schedule of the two countries for the year 2026.
NATO General visits the Rock
11:31 March 23, 2026
On 18 March, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sanchez de Lara, Commander, NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), Torrejon, Spain paid an official visit to the Hungarian Defence Forces Air Operation Command and Control Centre (HDF AOCCC), Veszprém. The NATO CAOC Torrejon Commander was received by Brigadier General Dr. Tamás Bali, Deputy Commander, HDF Joint Operations Command.
Closing the war requires diplomatic instead of military solution
12:08 March 18, 2026
Hungary is convinced that there is no military solution to the conflict; instead, diplomacy should prevail and the horrible Russo-Ukrainian war taking its heavy toll should be closed with peace – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at a press conference held after his discussion with Czech Defence Minister Jaromír Zuna on 17 March.
Minimi in the Focus
11:37 March 18, 2026
Soldiers of the 3rd Company of the 1st Grenadier Battalion of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade recently participated in an FN MK 3 Minimi light machine gun live fire exercise in Táborfalva. The purpose of the specialist group’s trade training is that soldiers, regardless of their position, learn about the main weapon of the section and its proper use.
Leopard 2A7HU tanks on live fire exercise
11:52 March 12, 2026
The 11th Tank Battalion of the HDF 1st Armored Brigade held a Leopard 2A7HU commissioning live fire exercise (LFX) for tank gunners on the Szomód shooting range on 3 and 4 March. At the same time, besides the commissioning LFX, the soldiers also carried out the test firing of the recently delivered tanks and zeroed in their guns.
The Hungarian Air Force Strengthens – New Gripens Arrive
11:48 March 12, 2026
The four new Gripen fighter aircraft will arrive in Kecskemét by 30 June. We promised strength, we have built strength! With the Hungarian fleet now comprising 18 fighter aircraft, we further strengthen Hungary’s security. To us, Hungary’s defence is the first, wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page on 11 March.
Successful Rescue Operation in the Middle East
13:58 March 10, 2026
The Hungarian Defence Forces have already transported more than 480 people – including 385 Hungarian citizens – to Budapest from the war-stricken Middle East. The Hungarian Air Force helped with eight rescue flights to those stuck in the region of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman between 4 and 9 March. The successful operation is the result of the effective cooperation among numerous units.
Annual Reception at the Logistic Command
14:15 March 9, 2026
Organised by the Bundeswehr Logistics Command, the annual reception of the military organisations stationed in Erfurt was held on 3 March. As a privileged logistic partner, the Hungarian Defence Forces were also invited.
Hungarian Defence Above Slovenia as Well
11:38 March 9, 2026
His Excellency Anzej Franges, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia accredited to Hungary, and Colonel Milan Kranjec, Slovenian military attaché, made a courtesy visit to the HDF 101st Aviation Wing in Kecskemét.