Lieutenant General Zoltán Schmidt
11:22 January 2, 2023Personal details
Date of birth: 30th June 1969
Place of birth: Paks, Hungary
Marital status: married, a father of one child
Education
2015 Defence Management Course (National University of Public Service, Budapest)
2011 General Staff Course (Miklós Zrínyi National Defence University)
2008 NATO Logistics Operational Planning Course (Oberammergau)
2006 NATO Defence Forces Course (Oberammergau)
2006 NATO Staff Officer Course (Oberammergau)
2004 NATO Logistics Course (Aachen)
2002 TÜV Rheinland Academy (Budapest), Quality Management System Referent
2002 Miklós Zrínyi National Defence University, military technology manager
1990 Máté Zalka Military Technical College, combat vehicle maintainer, combat vehicle technology specialization
Military career
2023 Deputy Chief of Defence for Management
2022 Head of office (deputy commander for management), Hungarian Defence Forces Command
2019–2022 Inspector General (logistics), Hungarian Defence Forces Command
2018 Acting Chief of Staff, HDF Joint Force Command
2017–2018 Deputy Chief of Staff Support, HDF Joint Force Command
2014–2017 Chief of Logistic Forces (deputy commander), HDF Joint Force Command
2013–2014 Acting Chief of Logistic Forces (deputy commander), HDF Joint Force Command
2010–2013 Chief of Logistics Operations Directorate, HDF Joint Force Command
2007–2010 Senior officer (deputy chief), Logistic Directorate, HDF Joint Force Command
2006 Senior officer, Force planning division, MoD Force Planning Department
2005–2006 Senior officer, Force planning division, Military Planning Directorate, General Staff
2003–2005 Senior officer for coordination, Logistic Planning Directorate, HDF Joint Logistic and Support Command
2001–2003 Senior officer for planning, Logistic Directorate, General Staff
1999–2001 Service chief for armored and motor vehicle technology, Logistic Directorate
1997–1999 Logistics chief (deputy commander for logistics), 1st Tank Battalion
1997 Company commander, logistic company, 1st Tank Battalion
1993–1997 Company commander, repair company, Logistic Battalion
1990–1993 Deputy company commander for armaments technology, 1st Tank Company, 1st Tank Battalion
1987 Student (Miklós Zrínyi National Defence University)
Decorations
Officer Service Medal, 3rd Class
Service Medal of Merit, Silver Grade
Service Medal of Merit, Gold Grade
Officer Service Medal, 2nd Class
Service Medal for Flood Protection
Service Medal of Merit Decorated with Laurel Wreath
Service Medal for Migration Crisis Management
Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Military Section
Language skills
English STANAG 3.3.3.3
Memberships
Hungarian Military Logistics Association, member
Hungarian Logistics Association, member of presidential board
The Tip of the Spear
11:58 November 13, 2026
As a designated event of his visit to Hungary, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of NATO Military Committee travelled to Camp Croft, Újmajor in the company of General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff to inspect the readiness status of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (NATO FLF BG) stationed there and its pool of military equipment.
Taking responsibility for our collective security
15:44 November 12, 2026
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee and the delegation headed by him were received by Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi and General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of HDF Defence Staff in Budapest. “The visit provided us with an opportunity to review the current issues of our Allied cooperation” – wrote the Minister of Defence on his social media page.
Active Ministry Involvement in UN Human Rights Review
15:22 November 12, 2026
Hungary’s fourth cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place on November 4 in Geneva before the UN Human Rights Council UPR Working Group. The Ministry of Defence also took an active role in the work of the Hungarian government delegation. The delegation was headed by Krisztián Mészáros, MFA State Secretary for Multilateral Affairs. The Ministry of Defence was represented by Ernő Baráth, Deputy State Secretary for Human Strategy, and Dr Gabriella Ráczkevy-Deák, Equal Opportunity Officer.
International Success
12:46 November 12, 2026
One of Germany’s largest military music festivals, the Berlin Tattoo 2026, was held at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin on November 7-8, where Hungary was represented by the Central Military Band of the HDF ‘vitéz Szurmay Sándor’ Budapest Garrison Brigade (HDF BGB).
Another Step in Defence Capability Development
12:42 November 12, 2026
“The European Union provides a very favourable loan to the Member States to develop their defence industry and defence capabilities,” said Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi in a video posted on his social media page on November 11, referring to the SAFE loan.
Another Step in Hungarian-German Military Cooperation
12:24 November 11, 2026
Lieutenant General Zoltán Schmidt, Deputy Chief of Defence for Management, and Lieutenant General Gerald Funke, Chief of the Bundeswehr Joint Support Command Headquarters, signed a letter of intent in Bonn, aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation. The parties are planning to review the achieved results in a year, and working out proposals for determining the future directions of areas of cooperation.
New Chapter in Hungarian-German Relations
12:15 November 11, 2026
“We held the first Hungarian-German intergovernmental consultation in Berlin. Germany is one of our country’s most important economic and strategic partners. We are linked by many ties. These meetings provided an opportunity to review the progress made so far in a number of areas and to set out the next steps in our joint work,” said Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi on his social media page.
Saint Martin International Reconnaissance Competition: Precision and Agility
12:11 November 11, 2026
The Saint Martin International Reconnaissance Competition was officially launched on the shooting range of Hajdúhadház, Hungary. On 10 November, Colonel Ákos Kreácsik, Commander, HDF 24th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Regiment officially opened the event, and the practical shooting competition running until the afternoon started right away.
Wall of Fire and Discipline – Being Prepared against the Flames
12:06 November 11, 2026
The soldiers of the KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion (KTRBN) recently conducted special “Fire Phobia” training to practice how to deal with the threats posed by incendiary devices. During the tasks, emphasis was placed on overcoming fear, the professional use of shields, as well as individual and squad-level cooperation. The objectives were confident reaction, disciplined tasks execution and the maintenance of operational readiness – even in extreme circumstances.
Humans Behind Technology
12:14 November 10, 2026
The success behind Exercise Brave Warrior 2026 – that is, the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group achieving “Combat Ready” status – was down to preparedness, professional expertise and coordinated teamwork of the soldiers operating cutting-edge military equipment. During the exercise, Hungarian, Italian and Croatian soldiers fought together as part of the battle group.