Margarita Howard, the CEO of HX5, has built a government contracting firm that reflects her background as a service-disabled Air Force veteran at nearly every level from the company’s culture and hiring practices to its formal participation in structured veteran employment programs. Since 2021, HX5 has hosted eight transitioning service members through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, maintaining a consistent annual commitment of two fellows.
Howard’s decision to engage with the fellowship program steadily, rather than opportunistically, signals that veteran support at HX5 is a strategic priority rather than a response to short-term hiring needs. The Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, established in 2015 under the DoD’s SkillBridge framework, places active-duty service members in civilian work environments during their final 180 days of service.
Fellows work four days per week on host company projects and spend a fifth day on professional development programming. The 12-week structure gives participants hands-on exposure to civilian professional environments while allowing them to assess fit before committing to post-separation career choices. More than 500 fellows have graduated from the program, with an 80% hire rate and average starting salaries of $70,000.
For Margarita Howard, the fellowship also serves a broader purpose. HX5’s work spanning advanced weapons research, sensor system support, and defense and space simulation closely parallels the missions many service members contribute to in uniform. Hosting fellows allows the company to demonstrate that continuity in practice and to build candidate pipelines with relevant experience.
Howard has noted that meaningful work often matters as much as compensation in retaining talent from military backgrounds. Veterans accustomed to mission-focused service environments frequently seek similar purpose in civilian careers. HX5’s contract portfolio and its leadership’s military background together create conditions that support that search. Refer to this page, for related information.
Learn more about Margarita Howard on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html