BISMARCK – Governor-elect Kelly Armstrong on Wednesday announced the appointment of Dirk Wilke as interim head of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Wilke currently serves as the executive director of Public Health for DHHS, where he has played a pivotal role in directing and coordinating the division’s activities, overseeing performance measures, and developing strategic plans to enhance public health across the state. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota, an MBA in business administration, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Mary.