The Chief of Defence Staff is directly subordinated to the Minister of Defence. He performs command of the Defence Staff and the military organisations of the military structure of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

He is the service superior (administrative senior) to the entire personnel of the organisations under his command, and exercises the employer's rights over the subordinate military and civil servant personnel.
He is responsible for the combat readiness, training, preparation and superior discipline of the organisations subordinated to him, as well as for commanding them according to statutes, other legal means of state guidance and internal regulations.