The Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives was originally formed in 1947 as the California Association of Airport Executives (CAAE), the organization has expanded over the years and in 1979 became the Southwest Chapter of the nationwide American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). The Chapter's membership includes airport representatives primarily from the states of California, Arizona and Nevada. Since its founding, the purpose of the organization has been to bring together all persons representing public use airports as well as persons interested in and working for the benefit of aviation.