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
“Faith Does Not Make Things Easier But Possible”
10:27 December 11, 2023
“It is often said that faith does not make things easier but possible” – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in the video posted on his Facebook profile on Sunday, 10 December.
Multinational Helicopter Training Centre established
11:09 December 8, 2023
On 1 January 2024, the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) will reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and start operating with a Hungarian deputy commander. The MHTC has been established by the European Defence Agency (EDA) with the support of 14 European countries.
The objective is peacekeeping
11:03 December 8, 2023
“The maneuver company of the Hungarian Defence Forces will also be participating in the structure of the Multinational Battalion (MNBN) of EUFOR Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2024. Their main objective will be to perform peacekeeping duties ranging from the most fundamental presence patrolling to crowd riot control tasks”, said Major General László Sticz PhD, the preparing first Hungarian commander of the European Union’s largest military mission. While at the Újdörögd training base of the HDF Joint Force Training Centre, the major general inspected one phase of Exercise High Voltage 2023 which closed the force-level pre-deployment training on 6 December.
Expanding rotary-wing fleet
14:00 December 7, 2023
On Monday, 4 December another two Airbus H225M helicopters arrived at the Szolnok airbase of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing. During the development of the armed forces, the Hungarian Defence Forces are going to receive a total of 16 such helicopters.
Defence planning at the level of the Alliance
13:54 December 7, 2023
In late November, a delegation from the NATO Allied Joint Force Command – Brunssum paid a visit to Hungary with the main theme of synchronizing NATO regional and Hungarian national defence plans.
Firmness and Empathy – Characteristics of a NATO Ambassador
10:08 December 7, 2023
Besides his work in the world of security policy, Dr. István Balogh, Hungary’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to NATO gave an insight into his extensive tasks. In his interview given to defence.hu, he also mentions how the experiences gained as Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy help his everyday work.
Hungarian Leopards on Hungarian soil
14:53 December 6, 2023
One of the state-of-the-art tank types in the world is about to enter service with the heavy infantry brigade of the Hungarian Defence Forces in the coming days. The first Leopard 2A7HU tank with Hungarian marking arrived in Hungary on 5 December to become integrated into the heavy infantry brigade that is declared to NATO but safeguards the security of Hungary. As an important part of the National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program, Hungary has purchased 44 units of this main battle tank, which is the most modern type in the world.
Rocket Attack at the End of Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky’s Visit to Israel
14:51 December 6, 2023
At the end of his visit to Israel, a rocket attack struck Tel Aviv while he was on his way to the airport, wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on 5 December.
We Stand Beside Our Allies in Hard Times
14:44 December 6, 2023
We stand beside our allies unconditionally in hard times as well, said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky after meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, 5 December.
The Hungarian Defence Forces commemorate a proud victory
10:25 December 5, 2023
In December 1914, Hungarian and Polish troops performed one of the most outstanding strategic feats of arms of World War I. The name of Limanowa has become synonymous with the eternal example of heroic conduct and self-sacrificing fight. The Hungarian hussars fighting in this battle earned imperishable merits in stopping the Russian “steamroller” and thereby created a turning point on the Eastern Front.