BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today appointed Conner Swanson to lead the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), effective Aug. 29, citing his experience with complex policy issues at both the state and federal levels and his guidance to the agency through the Governor’s Office these past two years.
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 includes DHHS, the largest agency in state government with an approved two-year budget of over $5.7 billion, including federal funds, and a team of nearly 2,500 authorized FTEs. 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 full-time as interim commissioner of DHHS starting in June 2025.
“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.”
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, and as senior advisor to the U.S. House Budget Committee. He also served in the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration and as assistant to the North Dakota House Majority Leader.
While attending North Dakota State University, Swanson completed internships for then-U.S. Rep. Rick Berg and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven. He earned a master’s degree in natural resources management from NDSU in 2017.
“I’m grateful to Gov. Armstrong for this opportunity and excited to officially become a part of the team at the Department of Health and Human Services," Swanson said. "Since December 2024, I’ve worked closely with the department through my role with the Governor’s Office. I have seen firsthand their commitment to the mission and the people we serve, and I am thrilled to join HHS and help build upon that energy and dedication.”
Armstrong thanked Traynor for his service to the state as he returns to his leadership role at Dakota Medical Foundation.
“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. 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,” Armstrong said.