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 future is for the children – international celebration in Belgium SHAPE community
14:53 May 19, 2026
This year, too, the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) held a spectacular event in Mons, Belgium on the occasion of World Children’s Day. During the celebration, the children of allied nations presented their cultural and musical values on stage.
Mythic venues, legends and heroes
12:43 May 19, 2026
Katsuhiko “Katsu” Tokunaga captured, in his photos, these specially painted aircraft – including the JAS 39 Gripen fighters of the Hungarian Defence Forces – flying above the Greek landscape as participants of the multinational Exercise NATO Tiger Meet 2026.
In the air, on the ground, in alliance
13:53 May 15, 2026
Italian Centauro combat vehicles, Leopard tanks, as well as H145M and H225M helicopters were roaring on the Zero Point shooting range and training area on 13 May. Part of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (NATO FLF BG HUN) arrived in the training area as air assault force, and then the whole personnel carried out a successful and coordinated live firing exercise with firearms, other weapons and tanks.
Cross Landing: the arrival of rotary-wing assistance
13:49 May 15, 2026
Hungarian and Serbian servicemembers arriving in the area of Dóc encountered a thick screen of smoke and the deafening roar of helicopters. Casualties lying on the ground with realistic moulaged wounds on them were waiting for personnel recovery. The objective of the two-day, cross-border Exercise Cross Landing was to have the two nations’ armed forces perfect their joint air search and rescue (SAR) operations.
EUFOR: Departing as a committed and successful leader
12:44 May 15, 2026
Following the 2024 command year, the Hungarian Defence Forces have completed the tasks of another successful leadership role in the peacekeeping mission of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as Brigadier General Tibor Szabó has been Chief of Staff EUFOR Operation Althea for a year. He relinquished his responsibilities as chief of staff to Romanian Brigadier General Traian T. Maghercă in Camp Butmir, Sarajevo on 14 May.
Award in the spirit of the Hungarian-Italian partnership
14:55 May 14, 2026
Colonel Mauro Bruschi, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), received the Partnership Medal of Merit from Colonel Gábor Hangya, the senior Hungarian national representative to KFOR, in Pristina.
Change of Chief of Staff at NATO HQ Sarajevo
12:08 May 14, 2026
Congratulations to Colonel Imre Szücs on officially assuming the role of Chief of Staff (COS) at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.
Joint training for strengthening unity
11:33 May 14, 2026
Reservists of the HDF 4th Territorial Defence Regiment are intensively preparing for the upcoming international Exercise Platinum Wolf 2026.
On this and the far side of River Danube…
11:21 May 14, 2026
Figuratively speaking, the ferries and combat vehicles of the Hungarian Defence Forces occupied River Danube on 11 May. They crossed Hungary’s largest river first at Meszes-Gerjen, and then at Fajsz, under cover of night. The wet gap crossing operation of the Lynx infantry fighting vehicles of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade was assisted by soldiers of the HDF 14th Engineer Regiment and the Ohio National Guard.
Multinational Crossing
16:47 May 13, 2026
Soldiers and combat vehicles of the Hungarian-led multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battlegroup (FLF BG) crossed the Danube by ferry at the Meszes–Gerjen ferry site near Kalocsa. Personnel of the HDF 14th Engineer Regiment and the Ohio National Guard, taking part in Exercise Szentes Castle, helped the multinational battlegroup in carrying out the task requiring coordinated teamwork on 11 May.