[3] In 1983, President Ronald Reagan created the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome and split out this role to a separate, ambassador-rank position.

[7] Ambassadors to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture are typically appointed for three-year terms.

[9] The position has attracted some well-known Americans: Millicent Fenwick, the first to hold it at the ambassador rank, was a nationally prominent former member of the U.S. House of Representatives;[3] George McGovern was a former United States Senator and the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee;[9] Tony P. Hall was a long-time sitting member of the House who resigned his seat in order to take on the role;[10] and Cindy McCain was a politically active humanitarian who achieved further visibility as the wife and then widow of a senator and presidential nominee.

[11] Several of the nominees, especially including McGovern and Hall, had long prior involvements with food, agriculture, and hunger issues.

[17] The following is a chronological list of those who have held the position since its elevation in rank, with what are typically their appointment and termination of service dates: