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.
25 Years in a Strong Alliance
12:13 March 19, 2024
Twenty-five years ago, on 12 March 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland officially joined NATO, which was a historic moment for these nations and the Alliance. This accession not only made NATO stronger but also renewed European unity and cooperation.
Choreography for saving lives
15:01 March 18, 2024
In 2024, as the lead nation providing the commander of EUFOR, Hungary stood up a team for the Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) capability of the mission. We talked with Lieutenant Colonel Attila Dajka, Commander, EUFOR Althea Aviation Detachment and Lieutenant (MD) Dr. Levente Forgács, a doctor of the detachment about the details of pre-deployment training for the mission and the circumstances of service abroad.
Recognition from NATO Commander in Norfolk
12:25 March 18, 2024
Dr. Gergely Németh, Head of NATO ACT Strategic Foresight Branch responsible for futures studies recently received the highest possible recognition from General Phillipe Lavigne, Commander, NATO Allied Command Transformation (NATO ACT).
In Alliance
11:13 March 18, 2024
Hungary joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 25 years ago and is a reliable and recognized member of the Alliance. On the occasion of the anniversary, the NATO Forward Land Forces Multinational Battlegroup held a dynamic combat vehicle display and carried out a live-firing exercise with Hungarian, Italian and Croatian soldiers. The state-of-the-art devices of the Hungarian Defence Forces were displayed, such as the Gidrán tactical vehicles, SAAB Gripen fighter aircraft and several Leopard 2A7HU third-generation main battle tanks.
Open Skies
11:09 March 18, 2024
The Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) based in Zagreb, Croatia, held an Open Skies Treaty Aerial Observation Course at the HDF 47th Airbase in Tata at the beginning of March. The main goal of the international organization – in the field of arms control – is to implement mutual security-building measures and closer cooperation. After the academic training and planning, the course participants flew two observation flights in the airspace of Hungary with the AN-30 aircraft arriving from Romania.
Memorial Running on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of NATO Accession
13:25 March 14, 2024
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland recently organized together a memorial running in Bydgoszcz, Poland on the occasion of the three countries’ 25th anniversary of joining NATO, with the participation of soldiers serving at the NATO elements stationed in the garrison and their spouses.
“We are on the Right Track!”
13:17 March 14, 2024
“As leader of the mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the greatest challenge is to create a balance between local political decisions and military supports” – told us Major General Dr. László Sticz, Commander, Operation EUFOR Athea on 13 March at the Budapest Balkans Forum (BBF) international conference organized by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA).
Promotions and Appointments on the Occasion of our National Holiday
16:05 March 13, 2024
President of the Republic Dr. Tamás Sulyok promoted Major General Attila Géza Takács to lieutenant general, Brigadier General Zsuzsanna Ballainé Krikker and Brigadier General Dr. Pál Imre Váczi to major generals and Colonel Ottó Piros to brigadier general on the advice of Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky with effect from 15 March.
Hungary Handles the Western Balkans Region as Distinguished
16:02 March 13, 2024
“The Western Balkans is of key importance for the security of Hungary and Europe, it is enough to think about the risks caused by the illegal migration route crossing the region” – Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky wrote on his page.
Hungary is a Reliable and Recognized NATO Ally
15:52 March 13, 2024
Hungary’s NATO membership means a “different quality” for Hungarian security – underlined the defence minister in Tata on Tuesday in his speech held to mark the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to NATO and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of NATO.