2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161
Celebrating the life of G.V.V. Rao, Ph.D.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 13, 2026
WHEREAS, G.V.V. Rao, Ph.D., a distinguished engineer, founder of multiple spiritual and educational organizations, and a beloved member of the Ashburn community, died on September 10, 2025; and
WHEREAS, a native of Gunupur, Odisha, India, G.V.V. Rao earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Andhra University and a doctoral degree in water resources engineering from Montana State University; and
WHEREAS, G.V.V. Rao devoted his career to supporting prestigious organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank, contributing to infrastructure and development projects across 40 countries; and
WHEREAS, G.V.V. Rao led his local Toastmasters International and was a member of the NAACP and the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington; and
WHEREAS, G.V.V. Rao founded Balavikas of Fairfax, an organization dedicated to fostering the spiritual growth of young people, and launched the Professional College Entrance Education and Development (PROCEED) Project, an initiative to provide mentorship to low-income students in India; and
WHEREAS, G.V.V. Rao established the Virtual Classroom Project in Visakhapatnam, India, helping students in rural areas gain better access to teachers and educational resources; and