Walter R. Hjelle was first appointed North Dakota Highway Commissioner in 1960 by Governor William L. Guy. He was subsequently reappointed in 1973, by Governor Arthur Link and thus has served in that capacity longer then any other commissioner in North Dakota history. After attending VCSC, Hjelle worked with the North Dakota Motor Vehicle Registration Department, The immigration Border Patrol at El Paso, Texas, and the Army Intelligence Corps as a criminal investigator, serving a tour of duty with the United Nations Assembly. Returning to Garrison, ND, in 1946, he opened a hardware store which he operated until his appointment by Governor Guy in 1960. In addition to many state and regional committees on which he serves, Hjelle is serving on the National Conference of Governor's Highway Safety Representatives. He is a past vice president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportations Officials (AASHTO) Region III, which encompasses thirteen Midwestern states.