Kota Harinarayana (born 1943 in Brahmapur, Odisha) is an aviation engineer.

He was appointed as chairman of the board of governors of IIT (BHU), Varanasi by Hon'ble President of India on 25 August 2020 till 25 August 2023.

[1] He was the vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad[2] and the president of the Aeronautical Society of India.

He obtained his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi[4] in 1964, and received master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science.

[5] He is the Founder Chairman of General Aeronautics, a UAV startup incubated at Indian Institute of Science.