HX5 CEO Margarita Howard has spoken directly about why her company’s work in defense and aerospace contracting a natural fit for military veterans is. The company’s contracts include support for advanced weapons research, production readiness reviews for sensor systems, and modeling and simulation for defense and space programs missions that closely mirror the work many service members perform in uniform.

This alignment is not incidental. Howard has built HX5’s hiring philosophy around an understanding that veterans transitioning from military service often carry technical expertise that maps directly onto contractor roles. A veteran who managed sensor systems for the Air Force, for instance, may find that an HX5 role supporting similar programs offers genuine continuity rather than a sharp professional pivot.

HX5 operates across more than 70 government locations in over 20 states, supporting the Department of Defense and NASA. Much of this work requires security clearances and familiarity with government operational environments credentials and experience that military members frequently possess before their separation date.

Howard has emphasized the distinction between government and commercial experience when evaluating candidates. Working alongside DoD or NASA on programs and missions, she has explained, develops a depth of contextual knowledge that commercial sector experience rarely replicates. Veterans often arrive with this orientation already developed.

The company’s participation in the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program provides a structured entry point for transitioning service members to experience this alignment firsthand. Fellows engage with actual project work over 12 weeks, allowing them to assess the fit between their military background and the contractor environment before making a full career commitment. Read this article for more information.

Learn more about Margarita Howard on https://www.youngupstarts.com/2025/01/10/how-hx5-and-margarita-howard-stay-ahead-in-government-contracting-as-a-women-owned-firm/