Central ND News

Sherry Adams, who has served as administrator and CEO of the Southwestern District Health Unit since 2009, has been appointed by Governor Kelly Armstrong to be North Dakota’s next State Health Officer. Her appointment will take effect on September 15.

Governor Armstrong highlighted Adams’ qualifications, stating, “Sherry brings a wealth of experience to the role of State Health Officer, and our citizens will be well-served by her deep knowledge and understanding of public health and emergency response. We’re thrilled to bring her expertise, passion and trusted voice to this key role as we continue working to make North Dakota the healthiest state in the nation.”

Adams is recognized for her background in public health and emergency preparedness. She is a registered sanitarian and environmental health specialist who began working in public health in 2004. At the Southwestern District Health Unit based in Dickinson, she oversees a staff of 35 across eight counties. Adams has over two decades of experience in emergency preparedness and response, including certification from both the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency as an incident command instructor.

In her new role as state health officer, Adams will join the governor’s Cabinet and provide strategy and policy advice on matters affecting public health. Her statutory responsibilities include advising local officials, promoting development of local services, improving wellness strategies statewide, and preventing communicable diseases. She will fulfill these duties part-time while continuing her current position at the Southwestern District Health Unit.

“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as North Dakota's State Health Officer,” Adams said. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me and am committed to working collaboratively with our communities, health care partners, and state leadership to protect and promote the health and well-being of all North Dakotans. Together, we will build on the state’s strong foundation to address current challenges and advance a healthier future for all the citizens of North Dakota.”

Adams’ experience includes joining North Dakota’s Emergency Management Support Team as a safety officer in 2009 before becoming an incident commander three years later. She played roles during major incidents such as tornadoes in Dickinson, H1N1 flu pandemic responses in 2009, significant floods between 2009-2011, as well as leading testing coordination during COVID-19 for local public health units. In addition to serving five years on executive committees for local county health associations—holding positions such as vice chair, chairperson, then past president—she has also participated internationally by teaching incident command courses in Ghana, Togo, Benin (Africa), responding to natural disasters like volcanoes or hurricanes in Hawaii.