U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has pledged her intention to pursue North Carolina's share of military contracts in coming months.

Hagan met with almost 40 Moore County residents Tuesday afternoon at Sandhills Community College. The occasion was one in a series of "Conversations with Kay" that she is hosting across the state.

"North Carolina has the largest military footprint in the nation, but we're only the sixth in military contractors," she said in brief opening remarks delivered in the Clement Dining Room in the Dempsey Center.

Hagan then moved from table to table to meet privately with individuals with concerns and interests to share with the senator, a Democrat.

"We want to help," she said. "That's what I was elected to do."

However, Hagan emphasized her concern about addressing the needs of veterans and military personnel and added that "there is a lot of veterans' affairs work to do."

The low-key event was nonpartisan, with both political parties represented, along with the Moore County Chamber of Commerce.

Among those in attendance were state Rep. Jamie Boles, a Republican, and Jim Heim, chairman of the Moore County Democratic Party.

Chamber President and CEO Patrick Coughlin was among the Chamber officials who were promised a private audience with Hagan to discuss the local military affairs initiative. Hagan will be the speaker for the Chamber's State of Federal Government luncheon in October.

Earlier in the day, Hagan met with several military leaders in Fayetteville, where she also attended the Defense Trade Show vendor breakfast at Fayetteville Technical Community Coll-ege. She conducted one of her "Conversations with Kay" sessions at Fort Bragg before traveling to Southern Pines.

Her schedule for the remainder of the week included delivery of an address for the Marine Corps League 87th National Convention in Greensboro Thursday. Her father-in-law was a two-star Marine general.

Hagan also visited the Biofuels Center in Oxford, where she held another "Conversations with Kay" event. A similar event was scheduled in Cary this morning.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.