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
Coordinated service
12:26 March 5, 2026
The fourth rotation of the KFOR H145M Hungarian Helicopter Detachment recently took off from the base of the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing in support of the multinational Kosovo Force (KFOR). This special detachment provides key air support for the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.
Mission accomplished
12:21 March 5, 2026
“The Hungarian Defence Forces help! The first evacuation flight, an Airbus A319 of the Hungarian Air Force has arrived home from Amman and safely landed in Budapest. I thank the air force for the excellent accomplishment of the mission. The Hungarian people can count on us” – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in a video published on his social media page on 4 March.
Using simulation to train soldiers of the future within a European framework
12:06 March 4, 2026
European defence cooperation has moved into a new phase in the field of modern simulation technologies: established by the European Defence Agency (EDA), the Modern Army Readiness with Simulation (MARS) working group held its session in Budapest on 25-26 February.
Help Is on Its Way!
12:02 March 4, 2026
“The situation has not improved in the Middle East. The first evacuation flight, an Airbus A319 of the Hungarian Defence Forces, has taken off for Hungarians who got from Israel to Jordan. We are constantly monitoring the situation. Hungarians can rely on us!”, wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page on 4 March.
Agreement with the 4iG on Strengthening Hungarian Defence Capabilities
13:37 March 3, 2026
The purpose of the now-signed agreement is to strengthen Hungary’s defence capabilities and the competitiveness of the domestic defence industry in the long-term, declared Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the ceremonious signature of the cooperation agreement among the Ministry of Defence, the Hungarian Defence Forces and 4iG Space and Defence Technologies (SDT).
Hungarian KFOR Contingent closes its mission with sports
13:22 March 3, 2026
The 33rd rotation of the Hungarian Defence Forces KFOR Contingent has been serving in Kosovo since 1 September 2025. The last six months were not only about disciplined and professional task execution, but also about steadfastness, cohesion and the continuous demonstration of physical and mental preparedness. The sports and professional competitions served as one venue among the various trials of strength.
Coordinating Staff decides on new endpoints
11:21 March 3, 2026
“This morning, the Coordinating Staff set up for the protection of critical infrastructure continued its work. We received reports about the weekend events from the Hungarian Defence Forces, the police, the Ministry of Energy and the services, and determined the further endpoints” – said Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in his video message on 2 March.
Hungarian Lynx, Hungarian strength
10:02 February 24, 2026
“The commissioning of Lynx combat vehicles is about to start in another army unit. The Hungarian-made Lynxes have been delivered to the HDF 11th Motorised Infantry Brigade as well” – wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page. “We are not only talking about strength, we are also building it day after day, because to us, the defence of Hungary always comes first” – added the minister.
“Strengthening of defence capabilities is our shared interest”
16:13 February 23, 2026
Hungary stands up for merit-based accession to the European Union, including Albania’s EU accession, and does not support ideology-based accession driven by political motives lacking merit, such as Ukraine’s accession would be – said the Minister of Defence on Monday in Budapest, after holding discussions with Albanian Defence Minister Pirro Vengu.
Minister of defence runs together with soldiers for peace
11:54 February 19, 2026
Besides strengthening camaraderie, the main and topical message of a memorial run organized on the anniversary of the foundation of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) is peace, because “the wind of war is blowing over Europe again” – stated Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the military sporting event in Budapest on 18 February.