Mary Wakefield Becomes New Secretary

Devils Lake native Mary Wakefield has been named acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The position makes Wakefield second in command at the federal agency. Wakefield had served as administrator of the department’s Health Resources and Services Administration since February 2009.

She also has served as an administrator at the University of North Dakota medical school and as chief of staff for former U.S. Senators Kent Conrad and Quentin Burdick.