Founded in 1912, the American Association of Port Authorities is a trade association which represents more than 130 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition, Association members include more than 300 sustaining and associate members — firms and individuals with an interest in the seaports of the Western Hemisphere. AAPA is dedicated to serving deep draft public ports by enhancing port management professionalism, and advocating issues critical to public seaports. AAPA promotes the common interests of the port community, and provides leadership on trade, transportation, environmental and other issues related to port development and operations. AAPA also works to educate the public, media, local, state and Federal legislators about the essential role ports play within the global transportation system. AAPA Headquarters is located in Alexandria, Virginia, approximately 5 miles south of Reagan National Airport, at 1010 Duke Street, between N. Henry and S. Patrick Streets. The staff includes 14 full-time, and three part-time, employees. AAPA’s annual budget is approximately $2.3 million. AAPA is governed by its 10-member Executive Committee and 66-member Board of Directors. AAPA has 13 technical and three policy committees; there are 350 individual corporate and almost 200 individual associate members on the committees. Annual convention sites are selected five years in advance by the Board of Directors during the AAPA Spring Conference in Washington, D.C.
