# Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi

Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi (born 5 May 1973) is a Hungarian military officer. He served as the Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces from 1 June 2021 to 27 April 2023, when President Katalin Novák dismissed him from the Chief of the General Staff position. According to what the president said, Ruszin-Szendi "fulfilled his duties with his best knowledge".
Romulusz Ruszin went to János Lenkey Cadet College at the István Dobó Middle School in Eger. After finishing middle school he went to Lajos Kossuth Military College at Szentendre and received his degree and commission as an Artillery officer in 1995. As a field officer he was appointed to the Miklós Zrínyi National Defense University's Military Leader Course. In 2006 Ruszin attended the Hungarian Special Forces Qualification Course, and one year after the Hungarian Special Forces Staff Course. In 2009 he agraduated at the Joint Special Operations University (USA), Combating Terrorism Course, and the Special Forces Advance Urban Operation Course in Germany with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He received his PhD degree at the Miklós Zrínyi National Defense University. In 2011 he attended the Joint Special Operations University (USA), Advance Combating Terrorism Course. In 2014 he received his master's degree of Strategic Studies at the United States Army War College.

## International missions

* 2007 - 2008 - Military Advisor and Liaison Team (MALT) Commander, Iraq, Baghdad
* 2011 - 2012 - Commander of HUN PRT, Afghanistan

## Career

* 1995 - Target acquisition sound battery, platoon commander, HDF 5th "Csobánc" MLRS Artillery Regiment
* 1996 - Staff battery, artillery observer training officer, HDF 5th "Csobánc" MLRS Artillery Regiment
* 1997 - 3rd MLRS battery, first platoon commander (deputy battery commander), HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade
* 1997 - MLRS battalion, training officer, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade
* 1998 - MLRS battalion, chief of staff, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade
* 1999 - MLRS battalion, deputy commander, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade
* 2003 - G-3 operations, senior officer at the doctrinal section, Land Forces Component Command
* 2004 - Chief of plans, HDF 25th Klapka György Light Infantry Brigade
* 2005 - Acting head of G-3, HDF 25th Klapka György Light Infantry Brigade
* 2006 - Chief of staff, HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion
* 2008 - Commander (acting), HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion
* 2008 - Deputy Commander, HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion
* 2009 - Battalion Commander, HDF 25/88th Light Infantry (Airmobile)
* 2014 - General Staff, J-3, Head of Land Forces, Hungarian Defense Forces Department
* 2015 - Acting Chief of J-3, Hungarian Defense Forces, General Staff
* 2016 - Commander, HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade, Debrecen
* 2019 - Reserve Command, Hungarian Defense Forces
* 2019 - Head of Office Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defense,
* 2020 - Undersecretary of the Department of Human Resources Management, Ministry of Defense
* 2021 - Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces
* 2022 - Chief of General Staff, Hungarian Defence Forces

## Promotions

* 1995 - 1st Lieutenant
* 1998 - Captain
* 2003 - Major
* 2007 - Lieutenant Colonel
* 2010 - Colonel
* 2016 - Brigadier General
* 2021 - Major General
* 2021 - Lieutenant General

## Awards and decorations

| 1st row | Hungarian Order of Merit Knight's Cross military ribbon | Merit Medal for Service Gold Cross | Merit Medal for Service Silver Cross | Merit Medal for Service Bronze Cross |
| 2nd row | Service Medals for Officers 2nd class | Service Medals for Officers 3rd class | Service Medal for Flood Protection | Service Medal for Flood Protection |
| 3rd row | Service Medal for Flood Protection | Service Medal for Flood Protection | Disaster Relief Service Medal | Migration Crisis Management Service Medal |
| 4th row | Peacekeeping Service Medal (Hungary) for service in Iraq | Peacekeeping Service Medal (Hungary) for service in Afghanistan | Achievement Medal | NATO Medal NTM-IRAQ |
| 5th row | NATO Medal ISAF |
Military offices :
| Preceded byCol. Gen. Ferenc Korom | Chief of the General Staff 1 June 2021 – 27 April 2023 | Succeeded byLt. Gen. Gábor Böröndi |

## Personal life

Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi is married and has two daughters: Romina (2002), Ronett (2007).
He enjoys reading, and sports: soccer, running, parachute jumping.