Artificial intelligence has become part of daily operations at HX5, the Florida-based defense contractor led by Margarita Howard. As sole owner, CEO and president, Howard has pushed the company toward early adoption of AI tools, arguing that staying ahead of new technology matters as much as staying current on cybersecurity.
HX5 supports NASA and Department of Defense programs across 34 states and around 90 government locations, employing more than 1,000 people in STEM-focused federal support roles. Winning that kind of government work depends heavily on proposal writing, and Howard has identified AI as a tool for strengthening that process.
Proposals Get an AI Assist
Government contracts are typically awarded through detailed written proposals that must clearly demonstrate capability, cost and value. Margarita Howard has said producing winning proposals requires a mix of technical know-how and strong writing, and AI tools now help HX5 staff draft and refine those documents faster without sacrificing accuracy.
Beyond proposal work, AI is also helping HX5 manage the extensive documentation required for federal compliance audits. Automating parts of that recordkeeping frees employees to focus on more complex assignments while keeping the paperwork trail intact for regulators.
Looking Toward a More Automated Future
Howard expects AI’s role in government contracting to keep expanding. She has said that by 2035, federal agencies will likely use AI more heavily to manage procurement, assess contractor performance and anticipate future program needs based on historical data. For HX5, positioning early gives the company an edge as that shift takes hold across the defense industry Margarita Howard has spent two decades navigating.
That early investment also carries weight in recruiting. Younger engineers and scientists entering the STEM workforce often expect to work with current tools rather than outdated systems, and Howard has pointed to AI adoption as one way HX5 signals to candidates that it takes technology seriously. In an industry sometimes seen as slow to modernize, that signal can matter as much as pay when candidates weigh offers from HX5 against faster-moving commercial employers. Read this article for additional information.
Find more information about Kelcy Warren on https://www.finsmes.com/2026/01/margarita-howard-on-how-hx5s-defense-origins-launched-its-expansion-into-nasa-contracting.html
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