IHS Announces New Office of Human Resources Director

The Indian Health Service is announcing Daniel Frye, MHA, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, as the director of the Office of Human Resources.

As director, Frye is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resources function and establishing a vision and direction for the full complement of core human capital programs, policies and services. This includes providing leadership and direction in the development of HR policies that promote maximum effectiveness in the IHS workforce while supporting the IHS mission.

Frye has served as the acting director since February 2024 and has been instrumental in standardizing human resource processes and aligning agency priorities under One HR, which saw the IHS move to a centralized HR model after decades of utilizing a decentralized model. Another of his other key efforts includes developing an agency-wide staffing calculator for budgeting and hiring of HR staff for each area office and service unit, a critical step in improving efficiency.

Frye also contributed to near record-high participation rates for IHS in this year’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which serves as an important tool for employees to share their perceptions regarding critical topics, including their work experiences, their agency, and leadership. The confidential feedback received from employees will be utilized to continue implementing positive change throughout the agency.

Frye has extensive experience in the federal government, specializing in director health care operations, executive leadership, strategic human capital management, workforce planning, and organizational development. He joined the IHS in 2017 as the clinical services administrator for the White Earth Service Unit in the IHS Bemidji Area. Most recently, he served as the director of the Bemidji Area, where he was responsible for providing leadership in the administration of a comprehensive federal, tribal, and urban Indian health care system for American Indians and Alaska Natives, primarily members of the 34 federally recognized tribes and six urban Indian health programs located in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Prior to working for the IHS, Frye worked as a quality improvement specialist and data analyst for the Health Division of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians from 2010 to 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Health Administration from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.