Ann Marie Thro is National Program Leader for Plant Genetics at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Cooperative States Research, Education, and Extension Service. She coordinates the federal-state partnership in plant genetics research in the state agricultural experimental stations and application of that research to develop profitable and safe agriculture.

Dr. Thro received her Ph.D. from Iowa State University. She began her career as assistant and associate professor of plant breeding, with research and teaching responsibilities at Louisiana State University. She served one year as technical advisor for the National Program for Grain Legumes, Congo, Africa. Thro joined the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in 1992 as coordinator of the global Cassava Biotechnology Network, a voluntary network. In 1999, she joined the USDA as Commissioner of the Plant Variety Protection Office, which serves the United States and international plant breeding communities through award of Plant Breeders' Rights.