Rao was a male Starfleet engineer in the 24th century.

As of 2376, Lieutenant Roa served aboard the USS Musgrave. (SCE eBook: Security)

By 2379, Rao was serving aboard the USS Enterprise-E, and that year was sent to Tezwa's Linoka Forest, as part of the Echo team under the command of Lieutenant Taurik, to destroy the nadion-pulse cannon firebase located there. (TNG novel: A Time to Kill)

After Prime Minister Kinchawn went into exile, Rao assisted in several efforts on the surface. He was part of the team that searched for survivors from the Deelatava attack, finding the lifesigns of Ambassador Lagan Serra and Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge. After Starfleet captured several contraband cargo shipments, Rao was one of the engineers who cataloged the parts and discovered conversion equipment and instructions intended to implicate the Tholians in the construction of the nadion-pulse cannons. (TNG novel: A Time to Heal)

Rao was noted for making asna dumplings. (SCE eBook: Security)

The reuse of this character's surname in the SCE and TNG stories is likely coincidental, but there is no information to preclude their being the same person.

USS Enterprise-E engineering personnel
Chief engineers	Montgomery Scott • Geordi La Forge
Engineers & technicians	Achen • H. Adislo • R. Barclay • M. Barnes • Chell • R. Danilova • DeCandido • I. Eiger • Gallivan • J. Goodnough • M. Granados • Heaton • Jarka • L'Sen • Linder • Mobe • Morello • Mun Ying • Nafir • Newaur • M. Obrecht • Rao • P. Porter • Porter • Rao • Sakrysta • Scholz • Sonol • E. Spitale • Taurik • T'Bonz • T'Eama • K. Tierney • Tomoko • Veldon • Wathiongo • Wolfe
see also: medical & counseling personnel • operations personnel • pilots & flight control personnel • security & tactical personnel • sciences personnel • senior staff • miscellaneous • unnamed