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
A Test of Strength and Endurance in Kosovo
09:09 July 2, 2026
Hungarian soldiers serving in KFOR, NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo successfully completed the multinational military strength and endurance competitions held at Camp Novo Selo.
Defence Ministers agree on strengthening V4 military cooperation
11:44 June 26, 2026
The member states of the Visegrád Group (V4) – the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia – consider it necessary to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of military logistics and defence industry – this was announced at a press conference following the meeting of V4 defence ministers in Budapest on June 25.
In the Lead Nation Role on Exercise Safety Fuel 2026
16:52 June 24, 2026
Exercise Safety Fuel 2026 was planned and directed under Hungarian lead. This year, the main focus of the activities was on fielding the joint Bulk Fuel Installations (BFI) and on the complex tasks relating to them.
Hungarian troops’ equipment arrives home from Estonia aboard giant airlifter
15:00 June 24, 2026
After two weeks of intensive work on difficult terrain, NATO’s international military medicine Exercise Vigorous Warrior 2026 ended in Estonia. The Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo aircraft transporting to Budapest the medical and field equipment of the Hungarian Defence Forces used in the Baltic state made two turns and so it landed at Liszt Ferenc International Airport on June 21 and 22. A prepared convoy of the Hungarian Defence Forces was awaiting for the cargo, so that it can return the items of equipment to the HDF Medical Center after unloading. On June 21, the Hungarian service members participating in the exercise also arrived in Kecskemét, Hungary aboard an Airbus A319 of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Guest stars in Kecskemét
12:10 June 24, 2026
On June 23, traffic was busy at the HDF 101st Aviation Wing. Two new JAS 39 Gripens arrived to their permanent home base, and besides, some special “dinner guests” came along to visit the airbase. A Northrop F-5A fighter aircraft and an Airbus A400M Atlas giant airlifter of The Turkish Stars – the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force – landed on the runway for refueling. En route to their destinations in Germany and Belgium, the members of the world’s largest aerobatic team equipped with supersonic fighters thanked their hosts in Kecskemét for their hospitality by performing a short demo flight.
The Fleet is Complete
12:01 June 24, 2026
With the completion of the Hungarian Defence Forces fighter aircraft fleet, already 18 armed JAS 39 Gripens safeguard Hungary’s and NATO’s airspace. “Our Gripens protect not only the Hungarian sky” – said MoD Parliamentary State Secretary László Kürtös at the reception ceremony of the last two assets of the fleet on June 23.
Safe command and control
10:56 June 24, 2026
Signal specialist assigned to the 34th rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent has successfully deployed and tested a mobile high-frequency (HF) radio station in the field.
Perfecting Quick Reaction
11:50 June 23, 2026
The third week of the 35th rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent’s pre-deployment training was eventful like the previous ones. Marksmanship, driving technique and Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) training sessions continue to be an integral part of the service members’ daily training program, and through accomplishing them, every day they get closer to their successful service with the mission in Kosovo.
Students of Pakistani National Defence University visit Ministry of Defence
11:00 June 23, 2026
A study group from the general staff training course of the Pakistani University of National Defence attended information lectures at the Ministry of Defence of Hungary on June 22. The delegation was welcomed by Brigadier General Zoltán Berec, Force Planning Chief, HDF Defence Staff.
More than a jump…
12:19 June 22, 2026
Together with their comrades coming from further units, he soldiers of the HDF Special Operations Command executed jumps with ram-air parachutes at an altitude of 3000 meters from the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft of the Pápa-based Heavy Airlift Wing to the landing zone designated at Szolnok–Szandaszőlős Airport. Parachute jumps are very important during special operations, and because the Special Operations Forces (SOF) can rarely practice them from one of NATO’s most significant strategic airlifters, this airborne training provided them with a highly valuable opportunity for capability development on the international level.