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
Clear Sky, Sure Target
14:51 April 16, 2026
The military parachute national team started preparation at the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing in Szolnok. Besides numerous world cup rounds, in 2026, the team will also participate in the 48th CISM Military Parachuting Championships to be held in Slovakia.
Taking up an international challenge
13:49 April 16, 2026
“Strong nations are based on strong people. The strong Hungarian Defence Forces are based on a community whose members are physically prepared, mentally balanced and are able to take responsibility for each other” – said Lieutenant General Zoltán Mihócza in Balatonakarattya on 13 April. The Deputy Chief (Territorial Defence) of the HDF Defence Staff opened the 10th National Military Tournament Competition (NMTC) and the 6th International Cadet Cup organized in parallel with it.
Military attachés’ visit to Szolnok
12:45 April 16, 2026
Defence attachés accredited to Hungary recently paid a visit to Szolnok to learn about the activities and vehicle pools of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing and the HDF Special Operations Command.
Joint force, joint success
12:39 April 16, 2026
Preparations for the multinational Exercise Platinum Wolf 26 have been going on for weeks at all three battalions of the HDF 4th Territorial Defence Regiment. The objectives of the training are to brush up the soldiers’ common military core skills and increase their capabilities.
International Recognition to Brigadier General Tibor Szabó
13:22 April 10, 2026
Brigadier General Tibor Szabó, Chief of Staff of the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was awarded the Medal for International Cooperation Grade II, by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Sajović, in recognition of his close cooperation with the Slovenian contingent in EUFOR Operation Althea and of his contribution to the development and reputation of the Slovenian Ministry of Defence and the Slovenian Armed Forces.
First-hand NATO experience – future military leaders in Naples
11:21 April 10, 2026
As the first leg of their study trip to Southern Europe, the students participating in the Military General Staff Course of Ludovika University of Public Service Faculty of Military Science and Officer Training visited NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) in Italy.
KFOR: Recognition of exemplary Austrian–Hungarian cooperation
13:07 April 9, 2026
On 30 March in Pristina, Captain Anna Katschnig, Company Commander, KFOR Multinational Military Police (MNMP) received the “Honors for the Partnership” medal from Colonel Gábor Hangya, Senior National Representative of the Hungarian KFOR Contingent KFOR Tactical. The Austrian commander displayed outstanding cooperation and professionalism during the visit of the President of Hungary.
Study trip to Sarajevo
12:26 April 9, 2026
In the first week of April, students of the Military General Staff Course visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to further extend their professional knowledge. The soldiers arriving in Sarajevo from the Ludovika University of Public Service Faculty of Military Science and Officer Training received first-hand information about the task system of the two international military organizations operating in the Western Balkan country, namely EUFOR and the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo (NHQSa) and about the tasks of the Hungarian EUFOR contingent.
National Defence Medal to Major General László Sticz PhD
12:21 April 9, 2026
Major General László Sticz PhD, serving as the Hungarian national military representative at the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), was awarded the gold grade of the French National Defence Medal (Médaille de la Défense Nationale) to recognize his performance as former EUFOR Commander and his outstanding cooperation with the French Armed Forces.
Cohesion is the key to mission success
11:07 April 9, 2026
“Led by the contingent commander, during your tour of duty abroad, you have formed a cohesive unit with members attentive to and assuming responsibility for each other, where all soldiers knew that they can count on their comrades if in need” – said Colonel Tibor Gaspor, Deputy Commander, HDF 1st Armored Brigade at the homecoming ceremony of the 33rd rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent (KFOR-33 HUNCON, KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion – KTRBN) on 2 April.