How it all got started

MAES was founded in Los Angeles in 1974 to increase the number of Mexican Americans and other Hispanics in the technical and scientific fields. The idea to establish a professional society for Mexican American engineers originated with Robert Von Hatten, an aerospace electronics engineer with TRW Defense Space Systems in Redondo Beach, California.  Mr. Von Hatten had for several years served as volunteer for programs directed at combating the alarming number of high school dropouts.  He envisioned a national organization that would serve as a source for role models, address of the needs of its members, and become a resource for industry and students.

The society filed incorporation papers as a nonprofit, tax exempt organization with the California Secretary of State in October 1974 and it received its charter on March 28, 1975.