U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Kyle M. Zenor received the Combat Engineer Officer of the Year Award from the Marine Corps Engineer Association.

He is the son of Darlou Evenson and Bruce Zenor, and the grandson of Clayton and Shirley Evenson, of Fort Dodge.

The award was presented in San Diego, California. It honors Zenor’s work from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018.

“Throughout this period, Capt. Zenor demonstrated great leadership and engineering acumen, and directly contributed to the coalition effort to defeat the final combat elements of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,” the award citation states.

The citation states that he “demonstrated great initiative, foresight and leadership in task organizing reconnaissance and explosive obstacle clearance teams on three separate occasions to establish tactical assembly areas and operating posts.”

Zenor’s work helped coalition forces to attack Islamic State fighters while at the same time improving safety for friendly forces, according to the citation. He also coordinated training for 90 engineers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians. He is credited with contributing to the safe removal of explosive devices and saving lives.

“Capt. Zenor’s initiative, perseverance and total dedication to duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States naval service,” the award citation states.

Zenor is now back in the United States and is assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma near Yuma, Arizona.