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
Hungary has returned to the path it left a few years ago
13:46 June 19, 2026
Hungary has returned to the path it left a few years ago, and NATO Ally countries are very pleased about it – stated Defence Minister Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi in Brussels on June 18.
From Hajdúhadház to Poland
12:54 June 19, 2026
The reservists of the 5th Territorial Defence Battalion of the HDF 2nd Territorial Defence Regiment are carrying on without a break. Their training has reached another important milestone: it is now centered on the development of marksmanship skills, movement on terrain and the synchronization of fire and maneuver. The tasks they are currently rehearsing are not accidental: they will need these skills soon in the international arena, in Poland as well.
NATO Combat Ready!
12:51 June 19, 2026
During their NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation of Land Headquarters and Units (NATO CREVAL) week, the ISR Battalion of the HDF 2nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Regiment has to react to continuous incidents at several sites. Among others, in Hajdúhadház, where the army scouts had to detect the infiltration of a small long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP). The ISR personnel successfully accomplished the task with the use of day/night observation devices.
Development of EU military cyber defence capability enters a new stage
16:08 June 18, 2026
The documents of the PESCO Cyber and Information Domain Coordination Centre project – executed with Hungary’s participation – were recently handed over officially to the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) in Brussels.
10 out of 17 Medals Go to Hungarian Military Athletes at European Kayak Championships
14:10 June 18, 2026
The Hungarian national team finished at the top of the medal table at the ECA Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe European Championships, which concluded on Sunday in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal. The athletes, who are members of the HDF Sports Company, delivered outstanding performances at the continental competition: military athletes won three of the five gold medals, three of the six silver medals, and four out of the six bronze medals.
Two months of preparation, two weeks of international exercise
12:15 June 18, 2026
This year too, Serbia provided the venue for the two-week international Exercise Platinum Wolf, which was conducted with the participation of a reserve infantry platoon of the HDF 4th Territorial Defence Regiment.
Rain, mud and blood
13:30 June 17, 2026
In a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius and under extremely changeable weather conditions—mostly in rain—the soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces Medical Centre started accomplishing their mission in Estonia on the Vigorous Warrior 2026 multinational NATO military medical exercise. To the Hungarian soldiers, this is more than just an exercise, as the objective set to the Role 2 capability is to obtain the NATO MEDEVAL certificate.
Make-A-Wish: Kilometres for Hope
11:44 June 10, 2026
A charity sports event was held in Mons at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), with the participation of Hungarian soldiers and their family members. Donations totalling nearly HUF 22 million (approximately €62,000) were raised to support children battling with serious illnesses.
Reservists preparing for international exercise
13:29 June 9, 2026
The preparation of reservists is continuing based on the lessons learned on the Moonstar exercises organized in recent years. The reservists of the 5th Territorial Defence Battalion of the HDF 2nd Territorial Defence Regiment participated in a three-day training program in the training area and on the shooting range of the Hajdúhadház Training Base. The training focused on developing marksmanship skills and the coordinated execution of tactical missions.
Peace and Security for Hungary
12:01 June 9, 2026
After a long time, the Hungarian and French defence ministers came together for a meeting June 8. Alongside the ministerial meeting in Cyprus, Defence Minister Dr. Romulusz Ruszi-Szendi PhD held discussions with French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin.