Armstrong appoints Pat Traynor as interim HHS commissioner

BISMARCK, N.D. (KMOT) – Gov. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., appointed Pat Traynor to serve as interim commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Traynor, the current executive director of Dakota Medical Foundation, will take a one-year civil service leave from DMF to serve as commissioner of the agency full-time, according to a spokesperson for the governor’s office.

A Fargo native, Traynor has held various roles in North Dakota agencies and boards, including leading what is now known as Workforce Safety & Insurance from 1994 to 2000.

His term will begin June 2. He replaces Dirk Wilke, who served as interim commissioner since January.

Wilke will continue to lead the public health division of HHS.