Major General  Tamás Sándor

Military Representative – Hungary
2023

  • Last updated: 28 Jun. 2023 10:30
Major General Tamás Sándor

Major General Tamás SÁNDOR was born in Budapest on 04th June 1968. 

His military career began in 1989 upon graduation from the Hungarian Military Academy. He served as an infantry officer in multiple junior officer assignments in the 62nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, to include infantry platoon leader, company commander. 

In 1995 he was assigned to the 88th Airmobile Battalion where he served in numerous command and staff position to include training company commander, infantry company commander, Chief of S37. As the unit evolved from battalion to 1st Light Cavalry Regiment he served as the regiment Chief of Operations. 

In 2004 he was assigned to the 34th Long Range Reconnaissance Battalion as deputy battalion commander responsible for its transition to Special Forces. He subsequently spent over 18 years as a Special Forces officer. Under his leadership, the battalion was transformed into a regiment and later a brigade, where he held the position of commander.

Based on the fact that he is the most experienced SOF commander, as of 2019 he was assigned to the Head of the Inspectorate of Special Operations Forces, Hungarian Defense Forces Command. In the same time, he was promoted to Major General.

He transformed the SOF Inspectorate into Joint Special Operations Command in 2022, of which he was the first commander. Since spring of 2023 he served as Senior Advisor to the Chief of General Staff.

In summer of 2023 he was assigned as Hungarian Military Representative to NATO and EU Military Committees.

His military education includes a Master of Science from Zrinyi Milkós National Defence University Budapest, Hungary, a Master of Defense Strategy, National Defence University, National War College, USA. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth, USA, Strategic Leaders International Course NAVSCIATTS, USA. He also accomplished the Special Forces Qualification Course Fort Bragg, USA. 

MG Sandor has completed multiple deployments during his career. He commanded the first Hungarian Contingent in Cyprus under UN mandate (UNFICYP). He had three combat deployments to Afghanistan first as a PRT commander, second as an OPS Director of Special Operation Task Force X and later commander Special Operations Task Group East in support of ISAF operations. He also led a Special Operation Unit in Iraq which had a special assignment. 

His awards and decorations include the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary, Speaker's Medal of Merit Silver Degree (Hungary), Two Meritorious Service Medal (USA), Gold Service Medal with Laurel Wreath (Hungary), Polish Army Medal Silver (Poland). MG Sandor was the first and so far, the only Hungarian to earn the prestigious US SOCOM Medal.

He also has the US Army Special Forces Tab, US Army Airborne Tab, Romanian Jump Wing, Hungarian Jump Wing.

What he is proud of the most – beside the fact that he is considered as the "Father of the Hungarian Special Forces” amongst all soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces – is his family, his wife namely Mariann, his son David and two stepdaughters Vanda and Vita. He also has a granddaughter, Masa, whom he calls a princess and likes to spoil in everything. Last but not least, the family's favorite dog Arthur, a Golden Retriever.