Conner Swanson Appointed To Lead North Dakota’s Largest State Agency

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has appointed Conner Swanson to lead the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, with the appointment taking effect Aug. 29.

Swanson has served as a senior adviser in Armstrong’s office since December 2024. His portfolio has included oversight of HHS, the largest state agency, which has an approved two-year budget of more than $5.7 billion, including federal funds, and nearly 2,500 authorized full-time positions.

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Swanson will succeed Pat Traynor, who has served as interim HHS commissioner since June 2025 while on civil service leave from his position as executive director of the Dakota Medical Foundation.

“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.”

Swanson, a Bowman native, previously worked as a policy adviser and communications director for Armstrong from 2020 to 2024, when Armstrong represented North Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House. Swanson also served as a senior adviser to the House Budget Committee, worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration and served as an assistant to the North Dakota House majority leader.

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While attending North Dakota State University, Swanson completed internships with 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.”

The HHS commissioner serves as a member of the governor’s Cabinet.

Swanson has also been involved with the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is distributing federal funding intended to improve health care and health outcomes in North Dakota.

Armstrong thanked Traynor for his service as he prepares to return to his leadership position at the Dakota Medical Foundation.

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“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.