K. R. Rao (Indian-American engineer)
K. R. Rao (Indian-American engineer) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaKocherlakota Ramchandra Rao Date and place of birth May 09, 1933;Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaEducation Banaras Hindu University (BS),School of Planning and Architecture (MS),University of Pittsburgh (Ph.D.)Carnegie Mellon University (PG Courses)Occupation Engineer, urban planner, academic, editorNationality American, IndianKocherlakota Ramchandra Rao (born May 09, 1933), better known as K.R. Rao, is an Indian-born American engineer, urban planner, academic, and author whose contributions span civil, structural, mechanical, and nuclear engineering. He is the founder and president of KRRAO Consulting and editor-in-chief of the Renewable Energy Book Series published by ASME. Early life and educationRao was born on May 09, 1933, in Guntur, India, on "Visakha Purnima," coinciding with Buddha Jayanti. His early education took place at Central Hindu School and College in Banaras, India, where he participated in cultural activities, including portraying Mahatma Gandhi in a trial simulation of British colonial rule, which received positive local press coverage.He acquired academic distinction by placing 13th in his university-wide matriculation examination in 1948 and 9th in the university-wide intermediate examination in 1951 at Banaras, India. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Banaras Hindu University and a master’s degree in planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, in 1964.Rao pursued advanced studies at Carnegie Mellon University between 1984 and 1986, focusing on seismic engineering, finite element analysis, and stress analysis. In 1976, he completed his Ph.D. in metropolitan and urban affairs with a minor in regional economics at the University of Pittsburgh. His doctoral research included presenting a paper on urban planning at the International Congress of Geography in Montreal.CareerRao began his career in July 1957 as a trainee at Tata Locomotive and Engineering Company, where he worked after completing an 18-month training program. In June 1959, he became a Gazetted Officer in the Town and Village Planning Department of the Uttar Pradesh Government and was later promoted to the senior executive cadre.In 1962, Rao pursued a two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning in New Delhi. His thesis, Meerut District – A Plan for Industrial Locations, focused on industrial planning. In 1964, he was assigned to coordinate the “International Seminar on Urban & Industrial Growth of Kanpur Region,” in collaboration with USAID, IIT Kanpur, and the Uttar Pradesh Government. This led to his move to the United States in 1970 to pursue a Ph.D. in Metropolitan Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.From 1973 to 1974, Rao worked at Urban Design Associates in Pittsburgh, contributing to projects such as the Dubois Area School District Master Plan, the East Street Valley Expressway, and an Urban Redevelopment Proposal for Hackensack, NJ.Between 1974 and 1976, Rao was a structural engineer at Peter Loftus Corporation, working on pipe support systems for US Steel and Bethlehem Steel. He earned his Professional Engineer license in Pennsylvania during this time. From 1976 to 1980, he worked at Pullman Swindell, focusing on industrial building projects and housing development for employees in Ben M’Hidi, Algeria. Rao also worked as a professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India, in 1976.In 1980, Rao joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation, where he performed seismic and finite element analyses for nuclear power plants, including the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland and various U.S. facilities such as Diablo Canyon and Vogtle. His work included analyzing piping systems and spent fuel pools.In 1988, he left Westinghouse to work briefly at American Electric in Ohio before joining Mid-South Utilities in New Orleans. While in New Orleans, he presented a technical paper at an ASME conference, which received attention and led to ongoing support for his participation in ASME activities.Following his retirement in 2002, Rao founded a consulting company KRRAO Consulting, where he has been serving as its president since. Throughout his career, Rao has been involved in architecture, urban and regional planning, and engineering disciplines, including civil, structural, mechanical, nuclear engineering, and renewable energy. His work has been implemented on projects in different countries.PublicationsRao is an editor for publications by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), including Handbook of Energy and Power Generation and Companion Guide to ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes and Standards. He has contributed to disciplines such as political science, operations research, urban geography, urban planning, public policy, and mechanical and structural engineering.He developed an ASME tutorial for the Pressure Vessels and Piping (PVP) Division and authored technical papers on the ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Code between 1990 and 2000. From 2007 to 2012, Rao was a member of the Special Working Group on Editing and Review for ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI. Rao initiated and edited the Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes, with multiple editions published between 2002 and 2018. Other notable works include the Energy & Power Generation Handbook (2011), Global Applications of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (2014), and Continuing and Changing Priorities of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes and Standards (2016).As Editor-in-Chief of the Renewable Energy Book Series for ASME Press, Rao has overseen as editor and author in publications such as Solar Energy Applications (2020), Biomass and Waste Energy Applications (2021), Wind Energy Applications (2022), and the Hydro, Wave, and Tidal Energy (2024).His two-volume work, Wind Energy for Power Generation: Meeting the Challenge of Practical Implementation, was published by Springer and is noted for addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It received a substantial readership on SpringerLink, with over 4,300 users in a single quarter.Volunteer activitiesRao began volunteer activities at age 14, collecting the highest amount in a door-to-door fundraising effort at Central Hindu School, Banaras, for installing a statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.As an undergraduate at Banaras Engineering College (BENCO), Rao was one of eight students selected for an engineering training program in Hobart, Tasmania, by the National Union of Australian University Students (NUAUS). During his time in Hobart, he addressed a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor, which was covered by the local press and BBC News. Decades later, Rao visited the University of Hobart Engineering School with his wife, Dr. Indira Rao, and their photo was published in the local press under the caption "Walking the Memory Lane." Rao also served as General Secretary of BENCO.In 1984, while in Pittsburgh, Rao met with N.T. Rama Rao (NTR), Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India, to persuade him to visit the United States and engage with the Telugu diaspora. Despite initial hesitation, Rao's hour-long presentation, attended by the Chief Secretary and Industries Secretary, convinced NTR to undertake the visit. This led to a historic seminar, "Industrial and Investment Opportunities in Andhra Pradesh," held in Pittsburgh, where NTR met with potential non-resident investor groups. The visit also prompted the central Indian government to issue directives, reflecting the political impact of the event. The initiative eventually led to increased international interest in Andhra Pradesh, with figures like Bill Gates later engaging with the state government.In 1985, the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) invited Rao to serve as Chair of the TANA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the TANA Nominating Committee.Rao contributed to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as chair, director, and founder of ASME Expos at the Mississippi Section, raising $30,000 for mechanical engineering departments at Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. He also served as Chair of the Codes and Standards Technical Committee and as a member of the General Awards Committee of ASME International. In 2001, Rao initiated the Early Career Technical Conference (ECTC), providing a platform for early-career engineers to present peer-reviewed papers. By 2019, the ECTC had hosted 880 participants from across the globe and raised $90,000 in funding.In 2003 and 2004, Rao served as president of the India Association of Mississippi (IAM), which was lauded by its founder, Dr. Baldev Raj, as the organization's most productive year. Key achievements included organizing the "Taste of India" event, publishing the IAM Directory, and facilitating the installation of the first statue of Mahatma Gandhi at a U.S. educational institution located at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.Awards and membershipsRao was vice president of the southeastern region of ASME International and is a fellow of ASME and the Institution of Engineers, India. He is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Texas and a chartered engineer in India.He has received several awards, including the ASME outstanding service award (2001), the Dick Duncan Award from the ASME Southeastern region, and the ASME society-level dedicated service award. He also received recognition from Entergy Operations, Inc. and Westinghouse Electric Corporation, along with a certificate for “vision and leadership” in Mississippi from ASME.From 2008 to 2011, Rao served on the board of the ASME District F professional and educational trust fund. He is a past member of the Operations Research Society of America (ORSA) and the American Society of Planning Officials (ASPO).Rao was recognized as a "lifetime member" in the Cambridge Who’s Who registry of executives and professionals and was listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in the World 25th silver anniversary edition.Personal lifeRao has been married to Dr. Indira Rao for over 57 years. Indira’s autobiography, Rose Bush, gained attention in 2018, including interest from U.S. filmmakers. The couple has two children and five grandchildren. Their daughter Uma Rao was a runner-up in the 1982 Scripps Howard National Spelling BeeHe has visited 76 countries with his family and collected coins and stamps while traveling. His landscaped garden, "Indira Park," features sculptures of Indian deities and cultural figures. References
www.krrao-consullting.com
www.krrao.netExternal links• K.R. Rao – Official website • LinkedIn - Profile