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
Successful firefighting operation in Albania
11:24 July 29, 2025
After completing four days of firefighting and more than 53 flight hours, the two H225M helicopters of the Hungarian Defence Forces returned from Albania to Szolnok airbase, Hungary on Sunday. The Hungarian airmen and the two rotorcraft had been providing assistance with containing the wildfires raging for weeks.
Hungarian Helicopter Leaves for Bulgaria to Provide Support in Wildfire Control
16:07 July 28, 2025
An H225M helicopter of the Hungarian Defence Forces has left for Bulgaria to help with containing wildfires. The aircraft of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing, with the Bambi Bucket used during firefighting operations, all the necessary equipment and the personnel, took off from Szolnok at 14.45 on Sunday, said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Reliable ally and defence industry giant
13:34 July 28, 2025
General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff recently visited the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) organized in Türkiye, where he conducted official discussions with Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Metin Gürak.
Mission: safeguarding the Baltic skies
13:02 July 28, 2025
“There are periods when service goes beyond the daily tasks. When we not only carry out commands, but also take a part of the homeland with us in the national insignia, the colors, the uniform and our sense of duty” – emphasized Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief, HDF Defence Staff in Kecskemét, at the farewell ceremony of the personnel preparing for the 69th rotation of the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) Mission on 23 July.
Committed to the stability of the Western Balkans – Chief of Defence visits Sarajevo
11:18 July 18, 2025
“It is Hungary’s prominent national interest to preserve peace in the Western Balkans and to promote its security and stability, so the Hungarian Defence Forces continue to committedly support the international forces serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina” – emphasized General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff in Camp Butmir, where he had discussions with the leaders of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo (NHQSa) and EUFOR Operation Althea, and held a staff meeting for the Hungarian troops serving in the region.
Second Rotation of H145M Helicopter Detachment in Kosovo
14:39 July 17, 2025
Another rotary-wing aircraft and the selected personnel of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing started their service in Kosovo in July as a part of the Aviation Detachment, carrying out air support tasks within the NATO-led peacekeeping forces (Kosovo Force, KFOR), and also contributing to the stability of the Western Balkans and the international recognition of Hungary.
Hungarian and Romanian Soldiers Conduct Joint Exercise Again
14:00 July 16, 2025
Soldiers of the Hungarian-Romanian Mixed Peacekeeping Battalion recently participated in a one-week intensive exercise at the Dud-Taut Range and Training Area near Arad.
The Hungarians have Europe’s most modern helicopter fleet
12:17 July 16, 2025
The medium multirole helicopter fleet of the Hungarian Defence Forces has become complete with the arrival of the last two Airbus H225M helicopters. This is no longer a promise of the future, it is the reality of the present – announced Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the base of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing in Szolnok on Tuesday. Our airmen perform their duties with the state-of-the-art helicopters of Europe – said General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
The fleet is complete
12:32 July 15, 2025
The last two H225M helicopters have been delivered to the Hungarian Defence Forces. This is a huge step in the military development program. Already 16 H225M and 19 H145M high-tech helicopters are serving the defence of the Hungarian people – wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page.
Our Reservists in Serbia
12:27 July 15, 2025
The Hungarian Defence Forces 4th Territorial Defence Regiment participated with a platoon at the three-week Exercise Platinum Wolf 2025 held in the training area of South Base, Bujanovac, Serbia.