For veterans leaving military service, the first civilian job often sets the tone for the decade that follows. Defense contractor HX5 has tried to make that first step more accessible through its participation in the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, a commitment that CEO Margarita Howard traces directly to her own experience navigating a similar transition after leaving the Air Force.

Eight Fellows, Four Years, One Consistent Commitment

HX5 joined the Hiring Our Heroes fellowship program in 2021 and has hosted two fellows each year, reaching eight total. For context, the company employs approximately 1,000 people a workforce size that puts it well below the major defense contractors that participate in the same program. Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Amazon can absorb far more fellows annually through dedicated military recruiting infrastructure. HX5‘s approach is more focused: integrate a manageable number of fellows into real project work and maintain that pace year after year.

The Corporate Fellowship Program operates as a Department of Defense SkillBridge initiative. Active duty members within 180 days of separation work four days a week at a host company for 12 weeks, with a fifth day set aside for professional development. They receive military pay and benefits throughout. The program has graduated more than 500 fellows since its 2015 launch, with an 80% hire rate and average starting salaries of $70,000.

HX5’s work is well-matched to what fellows bring. The company supports Department of Defense and NASA missions across more than 20 states and over 70 government locations, with work spanning research and development, engineering, and mission operations. Security clearances which can take civilians months or years to obtain are common among transitioning service members and frequently required for HX5 positions.

Understanding the Value of Government Experience

Margarita Howard has described her preference for hiring professionals with prior DoD or NASA experience. “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,” she has explained. That distinction matters at HX5, where client relationships and contract performance depend on personnel who understand how government agencies operate from the inside.

After her Air Force service, Margarita Howard earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and gained experience in the defense sector, including work on the Tricare military health care program. She founded HX5 in 2004. Her path is one the company now actively tries to make available to the veterans it recruits, through structured fellowship access and a workplace culture that reflects the values many of them carried out of service. Refer to this article to learn more.

Find more information about Howard on https://dataconomy.com/2026/02/23/infrastructure-as-competitive-advantage-margarita-howards-early-investment-philosophy-at-hx5/