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 Middle East is Still on Fire; We Can Feel the Effects Here as Well
13:21 March 27, 2026
Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky wrote on his social media page that, with regard to the current security situation, he had a discussion over the phone with the defence ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, during which he was informed firsthand about the effects of the war in Iran, as well as its regional and global consequences.
Rearranging power relations, transforming warfare
12:58 March 27, 2026
The Space & Defense Festival has brought together in Budapest the key players of domestic and international defence and space industry. “The power relations are rearranging, and we must react to the transformation of warfare and the changing security situation” – emphasized General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff in his lecture. “To ensure their strategic autonomy, the establishment of proper space capability is indispensable for any country” – stated László Deme, MoD Deputy State Secretary for Force Development and Innovation in summing up the development of the armed forces.
Hungarian general assumes duties as DCOM EUFOR Operation Althea
15:59 March 23, 2026
Brigadier General Bálint Legoza has taken over the lead of EUFOR Operation Althea, the European Union’s peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the next months, two Hungarian generals will be serving concurrently in the leadership of the mission, as Brigadier General Tibor Szabó will be performing his duties as chief of staff until May.
In Alliance: German NATO bases in focus
14:33 March 23, 2026
Major General László Sticz PhD, National Military Representative of Hungary at the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) recently visited logistic commands and commands responsible for air control tasks.
Hungarian officer attends air defence training in the USA
14:28 March 23, 2026
Lieutenant Milán Kacsmarik, an officer of the HDF 205th Air Defence Regiment recently participated in the Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course (ADA BOLC) organized for US Air Defense Artillery (ADA) officers at the Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill army training base, Oklahoma, USA. The objective of the almost two-month training was to prepare young officers for their Air and Missile Defense (AMD) Platoon Leader position, while providing them with a comprehensive picture of the core leadership principles and professional tasks of this branch of service.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky: combat vehicle maintenance, too, has outstanding significance
12:29 March 23, 2026
On 19 March, a combat vehicle repair workshop with an area of 2500 m2 was inaugurated in the Tata barracks of the HDF 1st Armored Brigade, where the maintenance of Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks and PzH 2000HU self-propelled howitzers can be performed on altogether 10 vehicle stands.
Hungarian-Polish cooperation continues unabated in 2026 as well
11:41 March 23, 2026
On 19 March, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed a plan on bilateral military cooperation in Budapest. Colonel András György, Chief of MoD Department for International Cooperation and Colonel Marek Kozera, Defence, Military and Air Attaché, Republic of Poland authenticated with their signatures the program schedule of the two countries for the year 2026.
NATO General visits the Rock
11:31 March 23, 2026
On 18 March, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sanchez de Lara, Commander, NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), Torrejon, Spain paid an official visit to the Hungarian Defence Forces Air Operation Command and Control Centre (HDF AOCCC), Veszprém. The NATO CAOC Torrejon Commander was received by Brigadier General Dr. Tamás Bali, Deputy Commander, HDF Joint Operations Command.
Closing the war requires diplomatic instead of military solution
12:08 March 18, 2026
Hungary is convinced that there is no military solution to the conflict; instead, diplomacy should prevail and the horrible Russo-Ukrainian war taking its heavy toll should be closed with peace – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at a press conference held after his discussion with Czech Defence Minister Jaromír Zuna on 17 March.
Minimi in the Focus
11:37 March 18, 2026
Soldiers of the 3rd Company of the 1st Grenadier Battalion of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade recently participated in an FN MK 3 Minimi light machine gun live fire exercise in Táborfalva. The purpose of the specialist group’s trade training is that soldiers, regardless of their position, learn about the main weapon of the section and its proper use.