Sergeant Major Zabala was born on 14 May 1978 in Salinas, CA. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 14 February 2005 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. After graduating recruit training, he attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, CA. Upon completion of MCT, he attended MOS school at Court House Bay, NC, for Basic Combat Engineer Course where he achieved the MOS of 1371, Combat Engineer.
Private First Class Zabala received orders to 1st Marine Division, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California, in September of 2005, where he served as a Combat Engineer. In January 2006, he deployed to Iraq, where he served on an Engineer Sweep Team and later that year in July he was Combat Meritoriously Promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Zabala redeployed to Iraq in March of 2007, and served as a Sweep Team Leader. While deployed, in June 2007, Lance Corporal Zabala was promoted to the rank of Corporal. He deployed again in April 2008. This time on the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), where he served as 1st Squad Leader, Combat Engineer Platoon. In October 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and in April 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), where he served as 1st Squad Leader, Route Clearance Platoon.
Sergeant Zabala executed orders in February 2010 to 1st Marine Logistic Group, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as Battalion Training Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). In May 2011, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF, where he served as a Watch Chief in the Combat Operations Center (COC).
In February 2012, Sergeant Zabala received orders to Drill Instructor School, Class 3-12, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. Upon graduation from Drill Instructor School in May 2012, Sergeant Zabala was assigned to Company K, Third Recruit Training Battalion where he would serve as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and an Academic Instruction Platoon Instructor with Instructional Training Company. In November 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
In June 2015, Staff Sergeant Zabala received orders and returned to 1st Marine Logistic Group, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. Regarded for his expertise, Staff Sergeant Zabala received Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) orders to 1st Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, as the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) Engineer Chief. He reported to Bridge Company in June 2016 upon compiction of the SPMAGTF, where he served as Platoon Sergeant.
In January 2016, Staff Sergeant Zabala received orders to 1st Marine Division, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. While serving as a Platoon Sergeant for a Combat Engineer Platoon, Staff Sergeant Zabala would deploy with the 31st MEU in October 2017. In January 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Upon re-deployment, he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Company A, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion.
In January 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Zabala executed orders to Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC), Headquarters and Support Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. Gunnery Sergeant Zubala served in Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 office as the MCIPAC G-3 Operations Chief.
In December 2021, Gunnery Sergeant Zabala was selected to the rank of First Sergeant and received orders to 2nd Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Upon checking in, First Sergeant Zabala was assigned as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Weapons Company. In February 2024, First Sergeant Zabala would deploy on the 24th MEU as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Headquarters and Service Company.
In April 2025, First Sergeant Zabala received orders to 2nd Distribution Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Upon checking in, First Sergeant Zabala was assigned as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Ground Distribution Company. He was promoted to his current rank in April of 2026.
In May 2026, Sergeant Major Zabala reported to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay to serve as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
Sergeant Major Zabala's personal decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars and a combat distinguishing device in lieu of 4th award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of 2nd award, and Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star in lieu of 2nd award.