Planning a decade ahead in defense contracting demands both clarity and humility. Regulatory environments shift, technology transforms entire workflows, and the workforce demographics keep changing. Margarita Howard, the sole owner, CEO, and president of HX5, has cultivated a long-range view that distinguishes her from many of her industry peers. Her company, which marked its 20th anniversary in 2024, employs over 1,000 STEM professionals across 34 states and 90 government locations supporting NASA and the Department of Defense.
AI and the Coming Procurement Shift
Howard has articulated a clear projection for where the industry is heading. “We believe that in the years to come, and certainly by 2035, government agencies will increasingly utilize AI to streamline procurement processes, evaluate contractor performance, and probably predict future needs based on historical data that they collect,” she said. For a defense contractor, that is not an abstract observation it is a direct signal about what operational capabilities will matter most in the years ahead.
HX5 has already integrated artificial intelligence into its proposal development and compliance documentation functions. Margarita Howard recognized early that proposal quality determines contract outcomes. “Being able to write winning proposals is an absolute necessity,” she noted. “Developing proposals that accurately show capabilities, solutions, and value propositions requires solid technical expertise combined with effective writing skills.” AI tools have enhanced both dimensions of that process, improved consistency and allowing the team to move faster without sacrificing accuracy.
Gen Z and the Coming Talent Wave
Margarita Howard’s long-term workforce strategy also accounts for the demographic shift underway. Generation Z is projected to make up roughly 30% of the U.S. workforce by 2030, according to Johns Hopkins University research. That wave arrives alongside a STEM shortage that affects 82% of defense industrial base companies, per National Defense Magazine. Howard’s answer modernized tools, flexible work where security permits, mission-driven recruitment, and a culture that produces 15-year tenures is built to absorb that wave and make it productive for HX5’s continued growth. Read this article for related information.
Visit Howard on https://www.f6s.com/member/margarita-howard, to learn more.