Five Things to Know About Margarita Howard and HX5

Margarita Howard leads HX5, a defense and aerospace contractor that has made veteran transition a regular part of its hiring. A November 2025 Ritz Herald profile laid out how her background shapes that commitment. Here are five takeaways.

Her Career Began in the Air Force

Howard served in the Air Force and is a service-disabled veteran. Margarita Howard later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and joined the defense industry team that implemented Tricare, the health insurance program for service members and their families. “My background was influenced by military service,” she said.

Second, HX5 works close to federal missions. The company supports Department of Defense and NASA programs in more than 20 states and at over 70 government locations. Its teams handle research and development, engineering, information technology, and mission operations, including advanced weapons research and modeling and simulation for defense and space programs.

Fellowship Participation Stays Consistent

Third, HX5 has hosted eight fellows through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program since 2021. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation runs the program as a Department of Defense SkillBridge initiative. Active-duty members spend 12 weeks with a host company, working four days each week and attending professional development training on the fifth, all while keeping their military pay.

Fourth, the pace is deliberate. Two fellows per year suits a company of roughly 1,000 employees, which cannot field the large military recruiting teams that bigger contractors maintain. Steady involvement, the profile argues, shows lasting commitment rather than reactive hiring.

Fifth, Margarita Howard favors candidates who understand government work. “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,” she explained. Veterans often bring security clearances and familiarity with military structures, which gives them an advantage on HX5 projects.

The broader program has a strong record, with more than 500 graduates since 2015 and an 80% hire rate. HX5, certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned small business, shows how a smaller contractor can contribute to that success at a sustainable scale. Refer to this article for related information.

Learn more about Howard on https://about.me/margaritahoward