Dr Allam Appa Rao (born on 28th December 1949) is now Principal, Andhra University College of Engineering (AUTONOUMS), Visakhapatnam, one of the top Universities in the country. He has been a Professor from the year 1985. He started his career in Computers in the year 1969 . He had his early training in Computers from Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta and ICTP, Trieste, Italy. He obtained his Ph.D. degree for the innovative and pioneering work on Studies on Computer Performance Evaluation ( when the subject was at its infancy i.e. in the year 1981 ). His focus is on developing India's Human Resource Base further becoming top Information Technology ( IT ) Resources in the world. He has devoted himself to promote computerization in the country for the last three decades in all his various endeavors. His assignments include distinguished stints in University Grants Commission ( UGC ) as Computer Education Development Committee Member, All India Council for Technical Education ( AICTE ) Expert Member, Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC ) Expert, Ministry of Human Resource Development ( MHRD ) Expert and UGC 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th five years plan Committees Expert Member.

Allam , as he is fondly referred to, was the pioneer of IT in the country. He regarded IT as a tool for massive Social and Economic transformation. As a Professor and formerly as Director, University Computer Centre, he popularized computerization by setting up IT training and education centers in major towns of the country. He also initiated many steps to implement IT applications in government administration and public undertakings. As Coordinator of Computer Literacy among Secondary Schools ( CLASS ), a pet project of Shri Rajeev Gandhi, he did a remarkable service to the nation by taking computers to the remotest schools. He served as a consultant to many enterprises. He is regarded as a creator and institution builder. He has established a large number of institutions and computer centers and serves on the boards of a number of universities and organizations, both in India and abroad. A good academic, he produced more than 251 (8 Doctoral, 191 MTech/MCA/MSc and 60 BTech) Theses . He has authored more than 50 papers and 10 Reports on IT and Computers. He gave invited talks and lectures in Universities and Colleges throughout India.

 Prof Allam is very popular among students and teachers alike for his unique and distinctive behavior. He was responsible for getting a 2 Crore Rupees grant to Andhra University to conduct MSc Computer Software Course for DRDO Scientists against stiff competition in the year 1986. He is a good project manager and got more than 1½ Crore Rupees grants from MHRD, UGC, DST and the then DOE for his research projects. He is considered as one of the country's earliest programmers. He traveled widely across the globe and across the country on various assignments. Innovation is his way of life. He believes in doing things differently rather than doing different things. In all his work has introduced new approaches, new systems and a new philosophy in imparting technology. He is known for his philosophy that "skill-based work begins with those who are skilled" . A strong patriot, he says that our IT talent should be retained within the country to help develop Indian Industry and Economy. He has always been keen on including ethics and a value based approach to technical education and has been inculcating these into the next generation by leading an exemplary life (practices what he teaches). A philanthropist, he has established several Charitable Trusts, to serve the socially and economically deprived sections of the society. He has established two Colleges in memory of his beloved parents, one at Visakhapatnam and the other at Vizianagaram a backward District. To recognize and reward talents among the youth is one of his many objectives. He is a proud recipient of many awards and honors from many communities. His main areas of professional interests include Object-Oriented Analysis and Design, Knowledge Management, Bioinformatics, Software Engineering, e Commerce, Computer Networks, Network Security, Image Processing and Information Systems Control and Audit and Internet Forensics.

Prof Allam is a member of professional societies like IEEE and ACM and a life member of CSI and ISTE . He is a Patron of Visakha Dance and Music Academy, Visakhapatnam and a life member of ISKCON. He is a member of India International Centre , New Delhi and India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. He is a member of Masonic Lodge. His wife Nagamani, an MA and MPhil in Philosophy and Human Rights activist, ably supports Allam, in all his pursuits. Allams are a happy family with a daughter (Sushmita Lakshmi) and a son (Guru Tejaswi).