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
Hungarian–Turkish cooperation keeps strengthening
09:41 November 12, 2021
On Thursday, 11 November, as a member of the delegation headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő attended the 5th meeting of the Turkey-Hungary High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. On the margins of the event, he held a bilateral discussion with his counterpart, Turkish Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar. Speaking in Ankara, Defence Minister Benkő stated that Turkey is an important strategic partner of Hungary in terms of military cooperation, therefore the two countries will conclude a framework agreement to further strengthen and expand this partnership.
Brave Unity 2021 – exercise control and support
16:25 November 11, 2021
In terms of the number of total participants, as well as the functional areas involved, the last decade’s most noticeable Computer Assisted Command Post Exercise is held under the name Brave Unity 21 in these days. The assigned personnel of Headquarters Multinational Division – Centre (HQ MND-C), playing the role of superior military organization, was visited by Major General Denis Tretinjak, commander of HQ MND-C, in the Simulation, Exercise and Training Centre of the HDF Bakony Combat Training Centre on 10 November in Várpalota.
Centennial Relationship with Latvia
08:57 November 9, 2021
Hungary is an important and actively acting member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – the most effective defence and military force in the world –, and strengthens common security – emphasized Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő. The minister held discussions with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs in Budapest.
Defence Minister Tibor Benkő receives Latvia’s foreign minister on a courtesy call
15:34 November 8, 2021
On Monday, 8 November, on the occasion of the centenary of diplomatic cooperation between Hungary and Latvia, Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő received Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgard Rinkēvičs in Budapest. At their meeting, besides today’s security challenges, the ministers also discussed current issues of allied cooperation between the two countries.
Sharpening the sword of the alligator, at the threshold of the ”Alligator Sword 21” exercise
14:00 November 8, 2021
Before its departure, the outgoing personnel of the Headquarters Multinational Division – Centre took part in the last preparation in the first week of November at Alba Regia barracks in Székesfehérvár. The drill, known in NATO terminology as ”Battle Staff Training”, focused on the tasks of deployed personnel, which is going to be relocated to Germany within days.
Defence Minister Tibor Benkő holds discussion with his Austrian counterpart
09:34 November 5, 2021
On Thursday, 4 November Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő received Austrian Defence Minister in the framework of a border meeting in Sopronbánfalva. During the official meeting, the two sides discussed the European security situation and its future, the common challenges, the forms of bilateral military cooperation and, last but not least, the tasks connected with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tibor Benkő receives Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on a courtesy call
11:07 November 4, 2021
On Wednesday, 3 November Defence Minister Tibor Benkő received General Christopher G. Cavoli, Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa on a courtesy call. Besides the selection and training of soldiers, the commanding general discussed current security issues with the minister of defence. During his two-day visit, General Cavoli also had a discussion with Major General Zsolt Sándor, Deputy Commander, Hungarian Defence Forces and participated in a panel at the National University of Public Service.
Serbian and Hungarian Chiefs of Defence meet in Belgrade
10:53 November 4, 2021
Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD, Commander, Hungarian Defence Forces recently attended a two-day meeting of chiefs of defence in Serbia. During the discussions, besides the current security situation of the region, the two sides also talked about the Hungarian COMKFOR’s tasks, as well as the coronavirus pandemic and the migration crisis.
Cooperation for the security of Europe
16:43 November 3, 2021
On 3 November, US Major General (Ret.) Barre R. Seguin, Director, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies paid a visit to Hungary. He met and held discussions with the leaders of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces Command.
Monument in the “hell within hell”
14:07 November 3, 2021
“We must remember and remind to ensure that such horrors never occur again”, said Defence Minister Tibor Benkő at the inauguration of a WWI memorial site for Hungarian soldiers in Nova Gorica, Slovenia on 2 November.