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
Precision Beneath the Surface
13:26 October 20, 2026
The divers of the HDF 24th ISR Regiment took part in an international professional seminar recently held at Lake Garda in Italy, alongside technical divers and instructors from other nations. During the dives, the soldiers practiced emergency protocols in accordance with the DIR standard (which is regarded as the benchmark for technical diving), the use of various Nitrox gas mixtures, and learnt to use a side-mounted cylinder configuration.
Hungarian Chief Instructor, Multinational Success
13:19 October 20, 2026
For the sixth time, the HDF Pápa Air Base is hosting the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course organised by the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre. Major Balázs Major is the first Hungarian pilot to assume the role of chief instructor on this course, which trains experienced helicopter pilots to become combat tactics instructors. On October 19, the course leaders held a professional development day in Pápa.
Polish-Hungarian, One Blood
14:46 October 19, 2026
The HDF’s Székesfehérvár garrison also took part in the fourth edition of the “Polish-Hungarian, One Blood” national blood donation campaign, which commemorates the solidarity and assistance shown by Poland during the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. At the event, 59 soldiers and defence employees donated blood, resulting in nearly 27 litres being collected. This amount could help save the lives of approximately 117 people.
“You who are still alive, see to it that peace remains!”
14:39 October 19, 2026
“The strength of a nation is demonstrated not only by how it preserves its present, but also by how it honours its past. Respecting our ancestors is a moral and human duty we all share,” said Major General Dr László Drót, commander of the HDF Territorial Defence and Military Augmentation Command, at a ceremony marking the completion of maintenance work at the Holy Spirit Military Cemetery in Székesfehérvár, co-organised by the German War Graves Commission and the Hungarian Defence Forces.
On the Bridge of Trust
13:43 October 16, 2026
On October 14, personnel from the HDF 37th Engineer Regiment welcomed the defence attachés accredited to Hungary at the Damjanich Barracks in Szentes. Diplomats from twelve nations accredited in Budapest reviewed the regiment’s finest assets: following the briefing by the commanding officer, they visited the unit museum, viewed the vehicle fleet, the maintenance workshop and the water purification equipment during a static display. They were able to try out the PTS-M tracked amphibious vehicle, and watched a dynamic demonstration of the PMP pontoon bridge kit.
Future Ambassadors of Peace
13:38 October 16, 2026
The two-day final exercise of the 48th International Military Observers’ Course got underway in Szolnok on October 14. During the examination, the blue-helmet soldiers must demonstrate the knowledge they have acquired over the past three weeks. If they pass and receive their UN-accredited certificate, the path to international peacekeeping missions will be open to them.
Croatian-Hungarian Ministerial Meeting
13:28 October 16, 2026
Defence Minister Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, and Ivan Anušić, Croatia’s Minister of Defence, held a friendly meeting in Lenti on October 15.
Spain’s National Day Celebrated in the Spirit of Allied Military Cooperation
10:35 October 15, 2026
Spain’s national holiday also draws attention to the importance of defence cooperation between Hungary and Spain, two committed NATO allies. At a reception held in Budapest to mark the occasion, General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of Defence, represented the Hungarian Defence Forces, further strengthening the significance of military-to-military relations between the two countries.
Much-Needed Discussion
10:31 October 15, 2026
On October 14 in Budapest, Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, Minister of Defence, held discussions with Matthew Whitaker, the US Ambassador to NATO, on the situation in Europe, the most important tasks facing NATO, Hungary’s intentions within the Alliance, and how to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of the GDP.
Joint Learning, Enhanced Drone Capabilities
13:56 October 14, 2026
Led by experts from the HDF NCO Academy, a basic international operational drone course was organised in Hungary for the first time. During this pilot training program, military personnel from nine nations shared their knowledge with one another on topics relating to training and capability development. Following the classroom training, during the second week of the course, the participants carried out on-the-job tasks in the airspace of the Csobánka training area.