Major Zempel was born in Montana and attended college at the United States Naval Academy. She graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in quantitative economics and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Upon completion of The Basic School and Marine Corps Engineer School, Major Zempel reported to 7th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB) at Marine Corps Base Pendleton, California. From there, she was augmented to I MEF (Forward), with whom she deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2010. She served as the Reports/FragO Order Officer and the engineer liaison for Civil Military Operations. Upon her return, she served as a Platoon Commander for 7th ESB, deploying a second time to Afghanistan in 2011.
In 2012, Major Zempel reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, Recruit Training Regiment. She served as Series Commander, H&S Company Commander and Operations Officer with 4th Recruit Training Battalion. She was also selected to serve as the MCRD/Eastern Recruiting Region Staff Secretary. During this time, Major Zempel completed non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School and earned her qualification as a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival.
In 2015, Major Zempel reported to 8th ESB, 2d Marine Logistics Group (MLG) as the H&S Company Commander. In January 2016 she was augmented to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in Djibouti, Africa where she served as the Engineer Planner and Special Operations Forces Liaison Officer. Upon her return she served as the Company Commander for Bridge Company.
Major Zempel reported to Monterey, California in 2017 as a student at the Naval Postgraduate School where she earned a Master of Science in Management in Defense Systems Analysis. During this time she also completed Command and Staff College. For her utilization tour, Major Zempel reported to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) at Fort Meade, Maryland. Maj Zempel initially filled the role as the Release Manager for the Global Command and Control System-Joint Program. After a few months she was selected to serve as the Executive Officer for the Assistant to the Director of DISA. In June 2021 she arrived to the Republic of Korea in her current role as Camp Mujuk’s Executive Officer.