Major General Zoltán Somogyi
15:53 July 18, 2023Brigadier General Zoltán Somogyi was born on 27th February 1974 in Fehérgyarmat. He began his military service in August 1992 at the Military Command Collage in Szentendre. He graduated as an artillery officer with a BSc in Land Surveying Engineering in 1996. He served 8 years in a various artillery officer assignments including 4 years as Battery Commander within the HDF 5th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 5th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion in Debrecen. During his artillery officer carrier, he successfully completed the Battery Commander Course of the German Bundeswehr and gathered experiences also in the field of rocket artillery. In 2003 he was deployed to the position of the 2nd Company Commander of the Hungarian Guard and Security Battalion, KFOR Kosovo and in 2004 he assumed command of the Hungarian Guard and Security Contingent, KFOR Skopje.
In 2007, he was appointed to the position of Hungarian Joint Force Command J3 Staff Officer in Székesfehérvár and he was promoted to Major. In 2009, he was assigned as a Liaison Officer to the German Operations Command in Potsdam and to the German MOD Planning Staff in Berlin focused on Hungarian contribution to ISAF operation. In 2010, he graduated from the National Defense University with MSc degree in Military Leadership. In 2012 he graduated the 7th German National Joint Admiral and General Staff Course at the Bundeswehr Command & Staff Collage in Hamburg. Following that, he was appointed to the position of the Military Assistant to the Chief of Land Forces of the Hungarian Joint Force Command and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. From 2013 to 2016, he served as the Head of Combat Support Branch G3 HDF JFC.
During this assignment in 2013-2014 he was deployed for seven months to Afghanistan as a senior advisor and head of a brigade level advisory team. In 2016, he was assigned to the position of Chief G37 HDF Joint Force Command. In 2017, his next appointment was at HDF JFC where he held the post of Chief J3/ACOS Operations and was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
From August 2018 he started and led the planning project of Headquarters Multinational Division Centre. He was appointed to Chief of Staff of the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre on 01 June 2020 and he was promoted to his current rank on the 20th of August 2020.
12 May 2022 – 17 May 2023 he served as Chief of Staff of EUFOR Force HQ in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since 15 July 2023 he has been assuming the position Director of the General Staff Hungarian Defence Forces.
He is married to his wife Beatrix and lives in Várpalota.
Locked Shields 2022 - Multinational Cyber Defense Exercise
14:50 April 25, 2022
Between 19 and 22 April, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCDCOE) held an international cyber defense exercise called Locked Shields, in which 32 nations - with 2000 participants -, including Hungary, were represented.
Corps Commander's visit to Székesfehérvár
18:00 April 14, 2022
During his program in Hungary, Lieutenant General John S. Kolasheski, Commander of V Corps of the United States Army, also visited Székesfehérvár on Thursday, 14 April.
Overseas book launch
16:19 April 12, 2022
After a successful debut in Hungary, Attila Szalay-Berzeviczy’s book entitled “On the Centennial Tracks of the Great War – From Sarajevo to Trianon” was recently launched in the United States as well. The overseas book launch and photo exhibition was held in the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall (concert hall) in Washington, D.C. on 6 April. The book was lauded by Dr. Szabolcs Takács, Hungary’s ambassador to Washington.
Basic Skills Development Week at the Multinational Division Headquarters
12:48 April 12, 2022
Between 4 and 8 April, for the first time, Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) held a Basic Skills Development Week, aiming at refreshing knowledge primarily in the field of medical assistance, armaments, radio procedures, improvised explosive devices, mine awareness and chemical protection.
KFOR: Introducing the Political Advisor’s Office
12:27 April 11, 2022
Our article series gives an insight into the everyday tasks of those serving in the staff and leadership positions of the 26th rotation of KFOR, into their professional performance in an international environment.
Chaldean Archbishop visits Camp Singara
12:17 April 11, 2022
On the occasion of Easter, the local Chaldean archbishop recently paid a visit to Camp Singara at Erbil Air Base.
Handover of Chief of Staff position at the Multinational Division
09:17 April 10, 2022
Brigadier General Ernő Péter Siposs is the new Chief of Staff of Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C). The position, embracing also senior national representative responsibilities, was handed over on Friday, April 8, in Székesfehérvár by Brigadier General Zoltán Somogyi, who will continue his service as the Chief of Staff of the European Union mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from May.
Ukraine lecture
17:44 April 9, 2022
At the request of Headquarters Multinational Division Centre, András Rácz PhD and Krisztián Jójárt, experts of the Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies, National University of Public Service, gave a lecture on the strategic and operational aspects of the war in Ukraine.
Commander of Hungarian Defence Forces holds discussions in Germany
16:05 April 8, 2022
Between 5–7 April, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD paid a three-day official visit to Germany. The commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces was received by General Eberhard Zorn, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, with whom he discussed security policy issues. Government Commissioner for Defence Development Dr. Gáspár Maróth also participated in the visit.
Commander of Hungarian Defence Forces holds discussions in Germany
16:01 April 8, 2022
Between 5–7 April, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD paid a three-day official visit to Germany. The commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces was received by General Eberhard Zorn, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, with whom he discussed security policy issues. Government Commissioner for Defence Development Dr. Gáspár Maróth also participated in the visit.