Full Breakdown
HX5's Commitment to Veteran Employment: Margarita Howard's Vision
11/19/2025, 3:38:45 PM
Understanding the Core Narrative
This article explores how Margarita Howard, a service-disabled veteran and CEO of HX5, shapes her company's approach to veteran employment through her personal experiences and the implementation of the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program.
Background & Context: The Hiring Our Heroes Initiative
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched the Hiring Our Heroes initiative in March 2011 to address the rising unemployment among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. This program connects veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with employment opportunities through a network of businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Corporate Fellowship Program, initiated in 2015, allows active-duty service members to gain civilian work experience during their final 180 days of service, addressing the challenge of limited civilian work experience among transitioning military personnel.
HX5's Veteran Employment Strategy
Since 2021, HX5 has welcomed eight fellows through the Hiring Our Heroes program, maintaining a commitment to integrate two fellows annually. This steady participation reflects Howard's belief that supporting transitioning service members goes beyond hiring; it involves creating structured pathways into specialized government contracting roles. Howard's military background informs this approach, as she emphasizes the importance of hiring professionals with prior Department of Defense (DoD) or NASA experience, which aligns with the operational requirements of government contracts.
Key Figures: Margarita Howard
Margarita Howard's journey from Air Force service member to CEO of HX5 illustrates her deep understanding of the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian careers. After her military service, Howard earned both bachelor's and master's degrees and worked on significant government contracts, including the implementation of the Tricare military health care program. This experience provided her with insights into the collaboration between contractors and government agencies, which she now applies to her leadership at HX5.
Supporting Veteran Transitions
HX5, as a service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned small business, signals to potential employees that its leadership values military culture and veteran contributions. The fellowship program not only helps veterans understand the business side of government contracting but also allows them to leverage their military training in a civilian context. Howard notes that the work at HX5 is often mission-focused, appealing to veterans who seek purpose in their civilian careers.
Criticism & Opposition: Scale of Participation
While HX5's participation in the fellowship program is commendable, it is modest compared to larger defense contractors like Amazon and Lockheed Martin, which host more fellows annually. However, when adjusted for scale, HX5's commitment holds its own against these industry giants, demonstrating that smaller firms can also play a significant role in supporting veteran transitions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My background was influenced by military service,” — Margarita Howard, CEO of HX5
- “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,” — Margarita Howard, CEO of HX5
- “The work we do is very exciting. Some of it is not being done anywhere else in the world,” — Margarita Howard, CEO of HX5
Conclusion: Building Cultural Continuity
HX5's approach to veteran employment reflects a commitment to cultural continuity, where values such as accountability and operational security align with military expectations. The company's ongoing participation in the Hiring Our Heroes program demonstrates how small government contractors can effectively support veteran transitions while maintaining operational integrity. Howard’s leadership exemplifies a veteran helping fellow veterans navigate the complexities of civilian employment in the defense industry.
