Margarita Howard spent years in the Air Force before she ever set foot in a boardroom, and that service still guides how she runs HX5 today. As chief executive of a firm that carries out defense and aerospace contracts, Margarita Howard brings a rare vantage point: she knows firsthand what it feels like to leave a uniform behind and search for a civilian paycheck.

Since 2021, HX5 has taken in eight transitioning service members through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The company has kept a steady pace of two fellows per year rather than chasing larger numbers, a choice Howard says reflects a deliberate approach to integration.

Military Roots Behind The Policy

“My background was influenced by military service,” Howard says of the culture she has built at HX5. Her time in uniform exposed her to clearance requirements, chain of command, and the operational habits that carry directly into government contract work.

That background matters because HX5 operates in more than 20 states and across over 70 government sites, supporting missions for the Department of Defense and NASA. Much of the work demands active clearances and comfort with military-style operating environments, qualities many veterans already hold before they separate.

A Small Business With A Clear Focus

HX5 is a service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned small business, a status that carries weight for job seekers leaving the armed forces. For many veterans, that designation signals a workplace where leadership already understands the transition they face.

Howard’s own path from service member to chief executive offers a visible example of what that transition can look like when it succeeds. Howard’s fellowship commitment, modest in scale compared with larger defense contractors, still gives HX5 a consistent role in helping veterans find footing in specialized contracting work tied closely to the skills they built while serving. Refer to this article for more information.

Learn more about Howard on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html