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

Second KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces arrives in Hungary
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On Friday, 21 November, the second Hungarian KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft landed at the Kecskemét base of the HDF 101st Aviation Wing. At the reception of the airlifter, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized that the last few years have been the years of the air force as well.

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On 13–14 November, the Óbuda University Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering hosted the 7th International Conference on Central European Critical Infrastructure Protection (ICCECIP).

Escape over hedge, ditch and water
12:12 November 21, 2025
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American-Hungarian Relations Have Never Been This Strong
12:08 November 21, 2025
“Under six months, bilateral relations have gained new momentum and the unsuccessful, failure-stricken period can be followed by a new American-Hungarian gilded age”, wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page after meeting with Robert J. Palladino, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the United States to Hungary.

Three New Skyfoxes Arrive, Now Eight Hungarian Foxes in the Sky
15:51 November 20, 2025
Three new L-39 Skyfox tactical training aircraft arrived in Kecskemét from the Czech Republic, as part of the national defence and armed forces development program. Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky wrote on his social media page that the HDF have become stronger. “Now eight modern Skyfox aircraft support the training of Hungarian pilots and the Air Force’s capability development. The aircraft include a world-class simulation system and a complete ground-based training package”, wrote the defence minister, among others.

Coordinated, precise, international
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On the Distinguished Visitors’ Day of the joint reserve Exercise Moonstar 2025, Hungarian and Polish reservists conducted a live fire exercise, carried out medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and used the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle to demonstrate their ability to perform complex tasks in an international environment under modern battlefield conditions.

Trust Forged in Fire
11:45 November 19, 2025
With Hungary holding the presidency, the Hungarian Defence Forces recently received in Hungary the military delegations of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, within the framework of the V4 Cooperation. According to General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff, it is essential that the four countries build real and shared military capabilities. A good example of this is Exercise Breakthrough 2025, the joint training event of the V4 countries, which develops the artillerymen’s and tank crew members’ skills.

Slovak and Hungarian Armour Crews Conduct Live Firing
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The “0 Point” Shooting Range and Training Area resounded with the roar of Slovak and Hungarian combat vehicles at the international tactical exercise Breakthrough 2025 on 17 November.

Boxing evening at the NATO SHAPE
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The Hungarian Defence Forces National Military Representation at the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) recently organized the 1st International Military Boxing Competition at its place of service in Mons, Belgium. The special boxing gala was organized with the professional support of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and the Hungarian Boxing Association.