Over the past 10 years, significant progress has been made in the development of RNA interference as a tool for controlling psyllids. The detection and remediation of invasive insects and the pathogens they transmit to crops and livestock not only induces competition and stress in native fauna, but also continues to impart heavy costs to state and federal agencies, and agricultural industries. Dependence upon chemical-focused management can contribute to issues of air and water contamination as well as development of chemical resistance in pest populations. A new strategy called RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged that could alleviate the dependence on chemical control. RNAi works through targeted degradation of specific nucleic acids (ribonucleic acid or RNA), which carry the genetic information for cells to make proteins needed for all living organisms to function. Starting in 1998, researchers of United States-Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) began to evaluate RNAi strategies, as a proof-of-concept, for use as an RNAi biopesticide against the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, Kuwayama, (Hemiptera: Liviidae). In 1998, D. citri was discovered in the state of Florida, in the USA, and the psyllid rapidly became established. The psyllid feeds primarily from the phloem of citrus trees, and other closely related plants. During feeding psyllids can transmit bacterial pathogens that infect citrus trees and other plants, causing serious threats to sustainable crop production. Seven years after D. citri introduction into Florida, the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), was detected (2005). Citrus trees infected with CLas exhibit severe symptoms, resulting in the most serious disease of citrus called Huanglongbing (HLB). Emergency action was taken by the Florida citrus industries, state, and federal agencies to stop the spread of the psyllid and the pathogen. Initial efforts to mitigate the spread focused on insecticide efficacy screens to reduce the psyllid populations. Concurrently, citrus breeders were screening all available citrus varieties to determine if any had a natural tolerance or resistance to CLas pathogen infection. To complement these strategies, research into gene-targeting biopesticides, both for psyllid control and interruption of pathogen transmission, began. These strategies, along with the development of microbial therapeutics targeting CLas in citrus trees and the psyllid vector have continued to date. Gene-targeting strategies have had significant advances in human and animal medical research since the 1990s, however the genetic information for insect pests of agricultural crops, was scarce. The strategic plan to successfully develop RNAi biopesticides for psyllid suppression, and microbial therapeutics depended upon the rapid production of genomic data. Here, in brief, the historical path of research conducted in the development of the D. citri psyllid genome, of RNAi in D. citri, RNAi trigger delivery methods, and patents, along with the future role of gene-targeting technologies for the management of plant pathogens and insect pests are discussed.