Government contracting has long been dominated by men, which makes HX5’s leadership makeup worth noting on its own. Margarita Howard, the company’s sole owner, CEO, and president, runs a service-disabled veteran and women-owned defense contractor where women hold the majority of management roles, many with advanced degrees.
HX5, based in Florida, supports NASA and the Department of Defense with STEM-focused federal services across 34 states and 90 government locations, employing more than 1,000 people. Most HX5 employees hold college degrees, a requirement that reflects the technical complexity of the programs the company supports.
Building a Different Kind of Leadership Team
Howard has described her management team as women “all very experienced in their respective areas,” many holding advanced degrees on top of years of hands-on program work. That leadership profile stands out in an industry where women remain underrepresented in senior technical and executive roles, particularly in defense and aerospace contracting.
The makeup of HX5‘s leadership also shapes how the company approaches recruiting. Margarita Howard has focused on hiring candidates with existing NASA or Department of Defense experience, arguing that background carries more weight than skills learned purely in commercial settings. That preference, paired with a leadership team built largely by women, gives HX5 a distinct profile compared with many of its competitors in the defense industrial base.
Recruiting in a Tight Market
National Defense Magazine has reported that 82 percent of companies in the defense industrial base struggle to find qualified STEM workers, a shortage that touches every contractor regardless of leadership structure. Margarita Howard has responded by emphasizing HX5’s culture and mission as differentiators, betting that candidates, including Gen Z applicants weighing several offers, will notice a company where women hold real decision-making authority. She has also pointed to updated internal communication tools and hybrid scheduling, introduced where security allows, as further evidence that HX5 is willing to adapt its culture even as it holds firm on the clearance and compliance rules that govern its work. Visit this page for more information.
Find more information about Howard on https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2025/11/12/what-will-defense-contracting-look-like-in-10-years/
