Major 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
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.
Strength and Speed
16:40 May 13, 2026
The Hungarian JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft (also) dashed on the spotter day of the multinational flying exercise NATO Tiger Meet, held at the Araxos Airbase, Greece.
Hungarian Defence Forces exercising with US, NATO and regional partners
16:24 May 13, 2026
“This week the Hungarian Defence Forces are conducting training events together with foreign partners on multiple locations around Hungary in the interest of developing joint operational and reaction capabilities” – said Chief of HDF Defence Staff General Dr. Gábor Böröndi. The general told us that hundreds of Hungarian servicemembers were exercising together with their Italian, American, Slovak, Slovenian and Serbian comrades during these training events organized within NATO and bilateral frameworks.
Minister of Defence sworn in
13:41 May 13, 2026
On Tuesday, 12 May, Defence Minister Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi was sworn in in the National Assembly.
The Tisza government has been formed
11:00 May 13, 2026
On Tuesday, 12 May, in Budapest, President of Hungary Tamás Sulyok appointed the ministers of Péter Magyar’s government, so the new cabinet has been formed. Hungary’s new Minister of Defence is Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi.
Oath-taking ceremony with military honors
10:59 May 11, 2026
On 9 May the new National Assembly was formed, the MPs were sworn in and the new speaker of the house was elected. President of TISZA party Péter Magyar took office as prime minister of Hungary. On the occasion of the inaugural session of the new National Assembly, the Hungarian Defence Forces were also present in Kossuth Square, Budapest, where the soldiers of the 32nd Life Guard Regiment of the HDF “vitéz Szurmay Sándor” Budapest Garrison Brigade ceremonially hoisted the flag of Hungary. The ceremonial parade involved the hussars of the Count Ferenc Nádasdy Hussar Division of the HDF “vitéz Szurmay Sándor” Budapest Garrison Brigade and the cavalrymen of the Hungarian National Ceremonial Hussar Squadron, as well as the bandsmen of the HDF Central Band.
“This Cannot Be Described, This Must Be Felt”
11:10 May 8, 2026
“At this battlegroup, the phases of theatre airlift must be known as skills”, said Lieutenant Colonel László Battonyai at the exercise of the Hungarian company of the multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (FLF BG HUN). Under the leadership of the battlegroup commander, servicemembers practised helicopter embarkation/disembarkation in Hódmezővásárhely on 5 May.