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
NATO Defense College Visits Budapest
09:31 June 11, 2025
Headed by NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, the Senior Course of the primary strategic-level educational facility of the NATO Defense College (NDC) visited Budapest to learn about Hungary’s foreign, security and defence policy priorities, as well as the directions of armed forces development. The delegation was received by Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
Hungarian Rotating Presidency Begins: New Momentum for the V4 Military Cooperation
15:07 June 10, 2025
Regional challenges, common goals: these are what the Chiefs of Defence of the Visegrád Group recently discussed in the Polish capital, Warsaw. Cybersecurity, joint exercises and filling up the European Union Battlegroup (EU BG) by 2028 were discussed. At the end of the summit, Poland handed over the rotating presidency to Hungary. From now on, Hungary will lead the V4 cooperation for a year.
Hungary Hosts the Large-scale International Exercise Saber Guardian 2025
14:11 June 10, 2025
The Hungarian Defence Forces will participate in the large-scale international Exercise Saber Guardian 2025, a main venue of which is Hungary, with 800 soldiers, between 6 and 24 June. The exercise is part of the series of exercises DEFENDER25, organised by the United States Army Europe and Africa Command (USAREUR-AF).
Hungary is actively participating in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
12:55 June 3, 2025
We have many such capabilities that we use to make significantly contributions to the defence of not only Hungary but also our Alliance system – stated Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at the Vilnius Summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) countries and the Nordic Allies.
Maintenance Agreement Concluded
16:03 June 2, 2025
Leopard Hungary MRO Ltd, a joint venture of MoD CURRUS Ltd. and KNDS Germany, recently concluded a maintenance agreement with the Hungarian Defence Forces regarding the latter’s main weapon systems.
ENDEX
14:05 June 2, 2025
The helicopter tactical Exercise Fire Blade 2025 has ended in Pápa. During twelve days, more than 300 servicemembers of the five participating nations and the four supporting nations completed 218 flight hours with close to 500 take-offs and landings.
Recognition for Hungarian Peacekeepers
14:58 May 30, 2025
The cooperation between the Danish contingent serving in the NATO mission in Kosovo and the personnel of the 32nd rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent is exemplary. In recognition of this, on the occasion of the Danish contingent’s handover-takeover ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Attila Nagy, Commander of the Hungarian contingent, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Danish Guard Forces of Camp Novo Selo, which hosts soldiers from both nations. As for the Danish contingent, they expressed their gratitude to the KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion Support Company and First Lieutenant András Metzger for their outstanding cooperation during joint operations.
On new wings
14:49 May 30, 2025
“The Hungarian pilots have received new wings with the arrival of the first L-39 Skyfoxes. We are continuously developing the Hungarian air force as well, as the safeguarding of our airspace is of key importance. These L-39 Skyfox military training and light tactical aircraft strengthen not only the capabilities of the Hungarian air force but also at once the defence of Hungarian people” – wrote Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page on 30 May.
C-17 Simulator Training – Now Also in Hungary
13:41 May 30, 2025
The ribbon cutting ceremony of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) C-17 Aircrew Training System Facility recently took place at the HDF 47th Airbase in Pápa. This is a milestone in training the professionals of the program, because the aircrews of C-17 aircraft can now conduct their proficiency and capability development simulator training also in Hungary.
Hungarian SOF troops on the African continent
12:20 May 30, 2025
In 2025, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) troops of the Hungarian Defence Forces are present at multiple locations again on the African continent. Besides performing training tasks in Somalia, they also participated in Exercise Flintlock 25 conducted in the West African region and in Exercise African Lion 25 held in Morocco. These engagements serve not only the strengthening of military cooperation but also the deepening of international presence.