Turnover is costly in any industry. In defense contracting, it carries additional weight: experienced employees take with them knowledge of specific government programs, agency relationships, and security-clearance history that is difficult to replace quickly. Margarita Howard, sole owner, CEO, and president of HX5, has shaped a company culture explicitly oriented toward keeping the people it recruits, treating retention as a central element of organizational strategy rather than an afterthought.

What Keeps Employees at HX5

Howard has shared that some HX5 employees have remained with the company for 15 years. HX5 celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, meaning long-tenured employees represent a meaningful share of the company’s entire history. Howard attributes that stability in part to the nature of the work. Supporting NASA programs or Department of Defense operations connects employees to outcomes that feel consequential. Commercial employers rarely replicate that kind of built-in purpose, and it proves to be a powerful counterweight against the higher salaries that technology companies can often offer.

Alongside mission-driven culture, Margarita Howard has introduced practical modernizations to reduce friction for workers who grew up expecting digital-native tools. HX5 now uses instant messaging, interactive project management systems, and hybrid work arrangements where security requirements permit. Howard has framed these as genuine adaptation rather than token gestures, stating that the company is excited about Gen Z and has worked to respond to what it observes about their needs and preferences. AI tools have also been integrated for proposal development and compliance documentation, giving employees more capacity for sophisticated technical work.

Education and Experience as Foundations

HX5’s workforce is highly credentialed. Howard has noted that most employees hold college degrees and that advanced degrees are common across the management team, which is largely composed of women. That educational baseline reflects the demands of the work providing STEM support to NASA and the Department of Defense at more than 90 government locations requires people who can operate competently in demanding technical and regulatory environments. Howard’s preference for candidates with direct government agency experience reinforces that standard and contributes to retention by ensuring new hires understand what they are walking into. Refer to this article to learn more.

Find more information about Howard on https://m.doyoubuzz.com/margarita-howard