Summary
The applicant, a 39-year-old Cyber Security Analyst with a history of military service, faced allegations under Guideline E for personal conduct and Guideline F for financial considerations. The judge found against the applicant on all allegations under Guideline E, citing dishonesty and lack of candor, while finding for the applicant on all allegations under Guideline F, indicating he was addressing his financial issues. Ultimately, the application for security clearance was denied due to concerns about reliability and trustworthiness.
Under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant engaged in conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations that raise questions about his reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or sensitive information (1.a). Applicant falsified his travel request with his employer by telling them that he was taking his wife to Taiwan for her birthday (1.b). Applicant lied about saying the reason he stayed longer than his scheduled date of leave in Taiwan was because he missed his flight, when in fact, he intentionally missed his return flight to the United States in order to stay longer with the Taiwanese woman (1.c). A delinquent Colorado student loan debt was placed for collection in the approximate amount of $74,148 (2.a). A delinquent U.S Department of Education student loan debt was placed for collection in the approximate amount of $15,595 (2.b). A delinquent U.S. Department of Education student loan debt was placed for collection in the approximate amount of $8,849 (2.c). A judgment was entered against the Applicant in January 2014, in the approximate amount of $5,000 (2.d). A delinquent debt was placed for collection in the approximate amount of $204 (2.e). A delinquent debt was placed for collection in the approximate amount of $83 (2.f).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 15, AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(d). The decision turned on the following: The applicant engaged in conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, and dishonesty, raising concerns about reliability and trustworthiness; The applicant failed to provide truthful responses regarding his financial obligations on his security clearance application.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant engaged in conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, and dishonesty, raising concerns about reliability and trustworthiness.
- The applicant failed to provide truthful responses regarding his financial obligations on his security clearance application.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 15raisedConduct Involving Questionable Judgment, Lack of Candor, Dishonesty, or Unwillingness to Comply with Rules and Regulations
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(d)appliedThe Individual Initiated and Is Adhering to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
Key Rule Quoted
“A person who applies for access to classified information seeks to enter into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedOct 13, 2017
- Answer filedFeb 5, 2018
- Hearing heldNov 27, 2018
- Decision dateMar 29, 2019
Cite For
- Disqualifying Conditions Under Guideline E for Personal Conduct
- Mitigating Conditions Under Guideline F for Financial Considerations
- The Importance of Honesty and Candor in the Security Clearance Process