[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from West Point, a Master of Science and a doctorate in social psychology and organizational behavior both from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts in military history from the School of Advanced Military Studies at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

As an assistant professor at West Point for three years, he taught organizational behavior, leadership, and management consulting.

Zais served as a White House aide and in Panama as executive assistant to the four-star commander of all U.S. forces in Central and South America.

He also served as commanding general of Operation Provide Refuge, the task force that cared for 4,000 Kosovo refugees who entered the United States.

He faced Democrat Frank Holleman, Libertarian Tim Moultrie and two minor party candidates in the November general election.

[13] On October 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Zais to serve as the United States Deputy Secretary of Education.

He remained in the position until January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden nominated Phil Rosenfelt, the former Acting General Counsel of the United States Department of Education, to serve in an acting capacity as Secretary of Education until Miguel Cardona, the President's nominee, was confirmed by the Senate.

In June 2023, Zais endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election.