Dirk Wilke
Health and Human Services Interim Commissioner
Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed Dirk Wilke as HHS Interim Commissioner on Dec. 15, 2024.
As Interim Commissioner, Dirk oversees all divisions within HHS, the state’s largest agency operating eight regional human service centers, the Life Skills and Transition Center in Grafton, the State Hospital in Jamestown and the State Laboratory in Bismarck.
Dirk joined the North Dakota Department of Health in 2008 and served in various roles before becoming the department’s chief operating officer in 2017. Dirk was named executive director for the public health division of Health and Human Services in 2022, a role in which he will continue to serve.
A two-time graduate from the University of Mary, Dirk received his bachelor's degree in communications and his master's degree in business administration. He also received his juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law.