A widely held assumption in workforce discussions is that defense contracting simply cannot win the talent competition against commercial technology companies when it comes to younger professionals. Margarita Howard, the sole owner, CEO, and president of HX5, challenges that view directly. Her company has grown to more than 1,000 employees across 34 states and 90 government locations, providing STEM-focused support services to NASA and the Department of Defense. She has done it, in part, by making a persuasive and specific case for why defense work matters.

The Mission Pitch

Howard’s recruitment approach centers on purpose. “You have to get up in the morning and be excited about the particular program you’re supporting,” she regularly tells candidates. Supporting a NASA mission, contributing to a Department of Defense program, or working on technology with direct national security implications these are not vague selling points. For workers who want their careers to carry genuine weight, Howard argues, defense contracting delivers a level of purpose that a commercial product role rarely matches.

That message connects especially with Gen Z. Born between 1997 and 2012, this generation has shown a notably strong concern for values alignment in employment. A Deloitte study found that 77% of Gen Z workers say it is vital that their employer’s values match their own. Margarita Howard builds her recruitment conversations around precisely that priority, framing defense work not as a compromise but as a distinctive opportunity.

Experience Still Matters

Even as HX5 adapts its workplace to appeal to younger workers, Howard holds firm on experience standards. “We prefer to hire experienced individuals, so we look for people that have worked with, or supported, NASA or the Department of Defense,” she explained. Agency-specific experience is not interchangeable with private sector credentials. It reflects a familiarity with the compliance culture, mission specificity, and operational cadence of federal agencies qualities that Margarita Howard considers essential to success at HX5 and difficult to develop without direct prior exposure. Refer to this article to learn more.

Find more information about Howard on https://www.f6s.com/member/margarita-howard