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
German Precision in the Hungarian Military
13:43 October 14, 2026
The German-Hungarian Joint Services Working Group organised bilateral consultations in Budapest across six thematic areas, as part of a series of binational visits at increasingly high levels taking place since September. The delegation also inspected the Hungarian Defence Forces’ military equipment and training aids of German origin.
German Unity Celebrated at Eiffel Art Studios
14:20 October 13, 2026
Alexander Schönfelder, Germany’s Ambassador to Hungary, hosted a reception at the Eiffel Art Studios to mark the Day of German Unity. Also in attendance at the event was General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
If you are not at the table, you are on the menu
14:14 October 13, 2026
“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” And Hungary’s rightful place is at the negotiating table on European security. It was an honour to take part in the Warsaw Security Forum, where, for the first time in a long while, a Hungarian Minister of Defence was once again able to represent the country, Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated on his social media page.
Who will Protect Europe?
14:09 October 13, 2026
Europe must become capable of defending itself independently. To this end, it is not enough simply to rethink the continent’s defence strategy; it is essential to rebuild and modernise the European defence industry, said Defence Minister Romulusz-Ruszin Szendi at the Warsaw Security Forum held on Monday.
Air Dominance
11:14 October 13, 2026
The international Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course is well under way in Pápa, Hungary. The course serves the tactical training of helicopter aircrews and their preparation as instructors.
Unarmed Service
11:08 October 13, 2026
On October 8, several blue-helmet soldiers gathered in the area of Kiskunhalas and Tázlár to participate in the complex patrol exercise of the 48th International Military Observer Course. Organized by the Szolnok-based HDF Peace Support Training Centre, the course is aimed at providing training for service members who are preparing to join UN-led unarmed peacekeeping missions in war zones or hot spots around the world.
On the Ground, in the Air, on Television
10:30 October 13, 2026
The Hungarian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team serving as part of EUFOR Operation Althea not only contributes to maintaining security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also to strengthening ties with the local population. In this spirit, on October 9–10, 2026, Sergeant Bence László Sándor, the dog handler for the Hungarian EOD team of EUFOR, and his explosive-detection dog, Sziporka, participated in several professional and media events in Sarajevo.
Rotary-Wing “Top Gun” in Pápa
12:22 October 9, 2026
Already on the sixth occasion, the HDF Pápa Air Base has been hosting the flying phase of the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course (HTIC), which is the second phase of one of the highest-level helicopter tactical training programs run by the Portugal-based Multinational Helicopter Training Center (MHTC).
Digital Twins in Real Military Environment
12:19 October 9, 2026
In late September, staff members of the Defence Innovation Research Institute traveled to Portugal, where they tested their own development, the Digital Twin/XR solution within the framework of the HEDI OPEX 26-1/ARTEX 26 military exercise in the Santa Margarida military training area. In cooperation with the Portuguese army and the experts of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation of the European Defence Agency (EDA HEDI), they examined how the technology can be used under real military conditions.
Rotorcraft training at Pápa again
12:44 October 7, 2026
In the person of Major Balázs Major, the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course (HTIC) of the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) in Sintra, Portugal has been launched with a Hungarian Chief Instructor for the first time. Like in earlier years, Hungary has been assuming an active and many-sided role.