Margarita Howard has spent her career navigating two worlds: the military and the government contracting sector that supports it. As the CEO and sole owner of HX5, a defense and aerospace company with approximately 1,000 employees, she draws directly on her Air Force service to shape how the company recruits and supports transitioning veterans.
HX5 joined the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program in 2021. The program, run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, places active-duty service members within 180 days of separation at host companies for 12-week fellowships. Fellows work four days a week at the company and spend one day in professional development sessions, all while continuing to receive military pay and benefits.
Veteran Skills Meet Government Contract Demands
The fit between the fellowship program and HX5‘s business is practical, not just symbolic. The company operates across more than 20 states and over 70 government locations, delivering research and development, engineering, information technology, and mission operations support to the Department of Defense and NASA. Those contracts require personnel with security clearances and government operational experience, both of which many transitioning service members already hold at separation.
Margarita Howard has explained the value in clear terms: “Experience in their respective fields, while supporting these agencies’ respective programs and missions, is very different from experience gained from working in the commercial world.” Veterans bring precisely that government-side experience, often without any additional training required to acquire it.
HX5 has hosted eight fellows through the program since 2021, two per year. Nationally, the program has graduated more than 500 fellows with an 80% job offer rate and average starting salaries around $70,000. For HX5, the fellowship also functions as a practical pipeline: fellows evaluated in real work settings give the company better insight into fit than any interview process alone.
A CEO Who Walked the Same Road
After leaving the Air Force, Margarita Howard earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and went on to work on the Tricare military health care program implementation, gaining firsthand experience in how contractors and government agencies work together. She founded HX5 in 2004.
That background informs how she leads. The company is certified as both a service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned small business, designations that carry specific meaning for veterans evaluating potential employers. For those leaving military service and considering careers in defense contracting, HX5 offers a visible model of where that path can lead. Visit this page for more information.
Find more information about Howard on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html
