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
The Security of Our Region is a Common Cause
11:51 February 25, 2025
“Strengthening military relations and constantly developing interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces is of strategic importance for both countries”, said László Hajnik, MoD Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy, after the discussion with Defence Policy Director Nikolina Volf, Head of the Sector for Defence Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia.
Operation and training with a new German-Hungarian joint venture
13:01 February 21, 2025
From now on, Leopard Hungary MRO Ltd, a new German-Hungarian joint venture with Hungarian majority holding is responsible for the operation of the Hungarian Defence Forces artillery and armor fleet and the training of Hungarian experts – the Hungarian managing director of the company in Munich told Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday, 20 February, following the signing of the company’s founding document.
Hungarian soldiers receive French military decoration
10:46 February 21, 2025
In recognition of providing security for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Ministry of the French Armed Forces awarded a military decoration to Sergeant First Class Balázs Németh and Staff Sergeant Lajos Serb. The decoration was presented to the recipients by France’s ambassador in Budapest.
Run for Peace
15:47 February 20, 2025
Today, there was a run not only in every HDF garrison town but also in each member state of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), said Colonel Dr. Zoltán Eleki, Deputy Head of the Defence Staff Training Directorate, on 18 February at the run held on the occasion of the CISM International Day of Military Sports on the athletics field of the Budapest Honvéd Sports Association.
Live Firing First Conducted with the New H225M Helicopter
13:05 February 20, 2025
A capability sustainment live firing exercise is being held with the rotary-wing aircraft of the Szolnok-based helicopter wing at the Kőröshegy training area and shooting range in the Bakony Hills during the second half of February. Within the framework of this, live firing is being first performed with the newly commissioned H225M helicopter of the Hungarian Defence Forces, announced Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Soaring Cooperation
11:40 February 20, 2025
The partnership between Hungary and Saab AG dates back to 2001. This was the year when Hungary ordered the first batch of Gripen fighter aircraft. On 18 February 2025, the defence equipment and aircraft manufacturing company opened a new office in Budapest. In the future, the Hungarian Defence Forces, the Swedish company and the players of Hungarian defence industry will pay special attention to the development of avionics. To this end, they will establish a joint Air Capability Development Center as well.
Polish-Hungarian Cooperation Plan Signed This Year Again
11:14 February 18, 2025
Representatives of the Ministries of Defence of Poland and Hungary signed a military-to-military cooperation plan in Budapest on 13 February. On the Hungarian side, Colonel István Hajnal, Head of the MoD Department for International Cooperation, and on the Polish side, Colonel Sławomir Mnitowski, defence, military and air attaché of the Republic of Poland signed the document.
Maintenance for the first time in Hungary
11:02 February 18, 2025
Aircraft technicians of the Kecskemét-based HDF 101st Aviation Wing recently carried out annual maintenance work on the KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces inside the unique C-17 hangar of the multinational Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) Program at the HDF 47th Air Base, Pápa, Hungary.
Earning International Recognition
10:43 February 18, 2025
The Hungarian soldiers have earned international respect and recognition for their service in the Hungarian Command Year with EUFOR Operation Althea, said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the Bálna Defence Centre, Budapest on Monday.
Side by side with the firepower
13:14 February 14, 2025
The air was glowing at the Szomód range on 12 February, when the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the HDF 1st Armoured Brigade first used the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles during a live firing exercise. Meanwhile, the personnel of the brigade’s 2nd Infantry Battalion practiced firing from BTR-80/A APCs. The first use of large-calibre weapons is always exciting but thanks to the appropriate preparation, the exercise was truly an experience for the soldiers.