Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the appointment of Dr. Edward B. Knipling (photo) as administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Dr. Antoinette A. Betschart and Dr. Caird E. Rexroad Jr. as associate administrators.

“Ed Knipling has provided valuable experience in leading ARS in an acting position,” said Veneman. “We appreciate his continued willingness to serve in this leadership position.”

Knipling has served as ARS’s acting administrator since December 2001. He has worked at ARS in various positions since joining the agency in 1968. As administrator, Knipling is responsible for managing USDA's main in-house scientific research agency, with over 2100 scientists and 8000 total employees in more than 100 locations throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Dr. Knipling is a native of Texas, but grew up primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. He earned his B.S. in 1961 in forestry from Virginia Tech University. He received his M.A. in 1963 and Ph.D. in 1966 in plant physiology from Duke University.

Additional information about Knipling can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/aboutus/docs.htm?docid=1600.

Veneman also announced that Caird E. Rexroad Jr. will be ARS associate administrator for National Programs. Rexroad will be responsible for management of scientific research through the ARS National Program Staff. Rexroad has been acting associate administrator since 2001. He has been working in various positions with ARS since 1974.

Dr. Rexroad is a native of West Virginia. He completed his undergraduate studies in Animal Science at West Virginia University (1968). Following military service, he obtained a Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology-Endocrinology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1970-1974). Additional information about Rexroad can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/aboutus/docs.htm?docid=1600.

Veneman also said that Antoinette A. Betschart will move from area director of the ARS Pacific West Area to be associate administrator for Research Operations and Management. She will oversee many functions within ARS, including technology transfer and scientific quality review.

Dr. Betschart, a native of California, received a B.S. degree in foods and nutrition from the University of California, Davis, CA (1960), M.S. in human nutrition from Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1966) and Ph.D. in food biochemistry and nutrition from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (1971). Additional information about Betschart is available at http://pwa.ars.usda.gov/betschart.shtml.