He was appointed by President Thein Sein in August 2013, following the transfer of his predecessor, Than Htay, by presidential order, on 25 July 2013.

[1] He previously served as Minister of Rail Transportation from September 2012 to July 2013.

[2] A military officer, Zeya Aung graduated from the 23rd intake of the Defence Services Academy.

[3] In 2007, he was appointed as commandant of the Defence Services Academy.

[2][5] Zeya Aung is the brother-in-law of Ye Htut, and an uncle of Jonathan Kyaw Thaung of the KT Group, a local conglomerate.