The defense contracting sector is grappling with a workforce shift unlike any it has faced before. As Generation Z those born between 1997 and 2012 enters the job market in growing numbers, companies relying on security-cleared STEM professionals must rethink how they attract and retain talent. Few industry figures have addressed this challenge as deliberately as Margarita Howard, sole owner, CEO, and president of HX5, a service-disabled veteran and women-owned defense contractor headquartered in Florida.

A Company Built on Specialized Work

HX5 operates across 34 states and 90 government locations, employing more than 1,000 people who provide STEM-focused support services to NASA and the Department of Defense. That scale means Howard must continuously fill highly specialized roles requiring rare combinations of technical expertise, government agency experience, and willingness to complete lengthy security clearance processes.

Security clearance timelines put defense contractors at a structural disadvantage against commercial technology companies, which can hire qualified engineers quickly and often at higher salaries. The World Economic Forum found that 38% of Gen Z workers said they were likely to leave their jobs within a year. Howard has not ignored that statistic. Magarita Howard has worked to reshape HX5’s tools and culture to address what this generation wants while holding firm on the mission-driven standards that government work demands.

Adapting Without Compromising

Howard has introduced hybrid work models where security protocols allow it and modernized internal communications with instant messaging platforms and interactive project management tools. She is clear that flexibility has limits in her industry: security standards are non-negotiable and the deliberate pace of government contracting does not bend to expectations shaped by commercial software firms. Her pitch to prospective hires emphasizes the genuine excitement of supporting NASA programs and Department of Defense operations. Howard regularly tells recruits they should get up energized by the specific program they are supporting. That message, paired with meaningful modernization, has produced results. Some HX5 employees have stayed with the company for 15 years, a notable achievement in any generation. Refer to this article, for related information.

More about HX5 on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html