What is the N.C. Military Foundation?

A nonprofit founded by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue to promote defense spending in North Carolina.

The N.C. Military Foundation incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) on Sept. 6, 2006, with a stated mission of "preparing North Carolina businesses to meet the contractual needs of existing U.S. Military facilities" and fostering the "proper public policy environment" to boost military spending here.

It has hosted summits on helping contractors get military construction jobs, introducing Australian diplomats to state business leaders and promoting veterans for civilian jobs.

Five North Carolina companies — Wachovia, Duke Energy, Progress Energy and Charlotte-based defense contractors General Dynamics and Parsons Corp. Commercial Technology Group., each pledged $200,000 in grants to the foundation for two years.

Still, the group works on a tight budget, spending most of its money on outside consultants and lobbyists. It's lone full-time employee is executive director Will Austin, a former executive assistant and foreign policy assistant to U.S. Sen. John Edwards.

The board of directors includes several retired three- and four-star military officers: Army Gens. William F. Kernan and James J. Lindsay, Marine Lt. Gen. Martin R. Berndt, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul E. Busick and Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Springer.

It also includes high-level officials from each of the five founding companies.