In the latest entry in our commissioner spotlight series, we are focusing on the head of the North Dakota Insurance Department (NDID) and president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Commissioner Jon Godfread. 

Commissioner Godfread was first elected to serve as North Dakota’s insurance commissioner in 2016. Prior to his election, Commissioner Godfread worked for Alerus Financial, and he also served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Greater North Dakota Chamber, North Dakota’s largest business advocacy organization. Between his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Commissioner Godfread played one season of professional basketball in Germany.

Commissioner Godfread graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005 before earning his MBA and JD from the University of North Dakota in 2011.

Why He’s Important to Agents:

Commissioner Godfread is an integral member of NAIC’s leadership, serving on its executive committee and, in 2024, as its president-elect. Before the NAIC created its newest “letter” committee, the Innovation, Cybersecurity, and Technology (H) Committee, Commissioner Godfread served as the chair of its predecessor group, the Innovation and Technology Task Force.

In addition to serving on the NAIC executive committee, Commissioner Godfread currently serves as co-chair of the Special (EX) Committee on Race and Insurance and vice-chair of the Government Relations (EX) Leadership Committee.

Commissioner Godfread has also taken aggressive regulatory action in North Dakota to protect consumers from improper air ambulance billing and by preventing illegal health care reinsurance rate increases. He will appear on the North Dakota ballot later this year, when he will be seeking a third term as insurance commissioner.

PIA National has long valued its close relationship with the NAIC and its leaders, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with Commissioner Godfread at the NAIC and in the state of North Dakota in the future.