(Valley News Live) – Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Wednesday appointed Conner Swanson to lead the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, effective Aug. 29.
Swanson has served as a senior advisor in the Governor’s Office since Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden took office in December 2024. His portfolio has included DHHS, the largest agency in state government, with an approved two-year budget of more than $5.7 billion, including federal funds, and nearly 2,500 authorized full-time equivalent positions. The DHHS commissioner is a member of the governor’s Cabinet.
Swanson succeeds Pat Traynor, who took a civil service leave from his role as executive director of Dakota Medical Foundation to serve as interim commissioner of DHHS starting in June 2025.
What Armstrong said
“From Capitol Hill to the State Capitol, Conner has navigated complex policy issues with skill and a depth of understanding that will serve North Dakotans well — a great example being his behind-the-scenes leadership on the Rural Health Transformation Program that is deploying hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants to improve health outcomes across our state,” Armstrong said. “We look forward to Conner building on the work of outgoing Commissioner Traynor and the team at DHHS to make North Dakota the healthiest state in the nation.”
Armstrong also thanked Traynor for his service.
“Pat’s boundless energy and passion for improving the health and well-being of all North Dakota citizens reverberated through not only DHHS but our entire administration,” Armstrong said. “We appreciate his leadership on implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program and engaging in other initiatives and challenges during his brief but impactful tenure with the department.”
Swanson’s background
A Bowman native, Swanson previously served as a policy advisor and communications director for Armstrong from 2020 to 2024 during Armstrong’s tenure as North Dakota’s lone U.S. representative in Congress. He also served as senior advisor to the U.S. House Budget Committee, in the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration, and as assistant to the North Dakota House Majority Leader.
Swanson completed internships for then-U.S. Rep. Rick Berg and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven while attending North Dakota State University. He earned a master’s degree in natural resources management from NDSU in 2017.
Traynor will return to his leadership role at Dakota Medical Foundation following the transition.
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