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
Sniper cross-training in Kosovo
13:17 January 31, 2023
Two sniper squads of the KFOR-27 HUNCON participated in a joint cross-training event with the American forces of Regional Command East (RC-E) Bravo Company.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky: the combat readiness of Hungarian armed forces must be the best
13:09 January 31, 2023
It is important that the combat readiness of Hungary’s armed forces be the best at all times – stated Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in a video uploaded to the Facebook page of the government on Sunday, 29 January.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky: we are closely cooperating with Austria in all areas
13:04 January 31, 2023
“Hungary and Austria are good neighbors and maintain very close cooperation in almost all areas, including the field of the military and defence”, said the Minister of Defence after holding a discussion with his Austrian counterpart in Budapest on Monday, 30 January.
Hungarian Chief of Defence gives presentation at International Armoured Vehicles Conference in London
11:48 January 25, 2023
On 24 January, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD, Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces gave a presentation at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAVs) Conference, which was held with the participation of more than 60 speakers and more than 40 countries in London. Also in attendance at the event was Brigadier General János Somogyi, Deputy Director of Staff (DOS) Operations of the HDF General Staff.
National defence must be strengthened in all its segments
18:32 January 23, 2023
One important element in Hungary’s armed forces development program is the creation of the combat-worthy, strong armed forces, which conform with NATO’s concept for deterrence and are able to guarantee peace and the citizens’ security, said Brigadier General Dr. Imre Porkoláb, MoD Ministerial Commissioner for Defence Innovation at an international conference held with the title “Similarities, Differences and Possibilities of Cooperation in the Fields of Hungarian and Polish Armed Forces Development” at the Wacław Felczak Institute in Warsaw on 16 January.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky: Peace is of the utmost importance for Hungary and Serbia
18:23 January 23, 2023
Peace is of the utmost importance for Hungary and Serbia alike, and since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Hungary has been consistently drawn attention to truce and the attainment of peace, while Serbia agrees on the point that war can only bring bad luck for the smaller or medium-sized states of the region, and therefore its soonest possible end is in the interest of both countries, emphasized Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in Belgrade on Friday, January 20.
The rejuvenation of HDF organizations is in progress
18:08 January 23, 2023
The process of rejuvenation has started in the Hungarian Defence Forces in the interest of Hungary’s security, so that we can pave the way for those young commanders who speak languages, have gained experiences on NATO courses and foreign missions, have outstanding physical stamina and will be the most capable ones to use modern military equipment and tactics. The current war situation warns us that it takes strength to achieve peace, and strength in turn requires modern, combat-worthy armed forces.
Hungarian Chief of Defence attends NATO session
14:07 January 20, 2023
On 18–19 January, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the representatives of Finland and Sweden held a two-day meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The event was attended by Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD, Chief of the HDF General Staff, who also met the Hungarian soldiers serving in Belgium and gave them recognitions.
New Commander assumes command of EUFOR Operation Althea
13:51 January 20, 2023
On 18 January 2023, Major General Helmut Habermayer assumed command of EUFOR Operation Althea. At the Change of Command ceremony, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence was represented by Gábor Gion, MoD State Secretary for Strategic Analysis and Human Resources and Lieutenant General Zsolt Sándor, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
HDF organizations to be rejuvenated
13:47 January 20, 2023
“In an age of dangers, the Government of Hungary considers the security of the Hungarian people as its top priority. In parallel with the procurement of modern military technology, the organizational transformation of the armed forces is also under way. In this work, we have now reached the threshold of a new era. The personnel of the Hungarian Defence Forces must be renewed as well”, said Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at his annual assessment conference held in the Budapest Whale in the morning of Tuesday, 17 January.