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ISCR Case 18-00767 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 18-00767

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date5/23/2019
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Elizabeth M. Matchinski
Government Counsel: Carroll J. Connelley
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 43-year-old nuclear inspector employed by a defense contractor, who sought a security clearance after being diagnosed with alcohol dependence in 2013. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing concerns under Guideline G regarding his alcohol consumption, particularly noting his continued drinking after receiving inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder in 2016, despite medical advice to abstain.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to his history of alcohol treatment but denied ongoing alcohol consumption, claiming he only drank moderately. However, evidence presented indicated a pattern of increased alcohol use, including a significant intake prior to his treatment and a lack of follow-through with recommended outpatient care. The applicant's testimony included conflicting statements about his drinking habits, and he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for resuming alcohol use against medical advice.
The administrative judge ruled to deny the applicant's security clearance, concluding that his continued alcohol consumption posed a significant risk to national security. The judge emphasized the applicant's failure to demonstrate a commitment to abstaining from alcohol and the potential for relapse, which undermined his reliability and trustworthiness in holding a sensitive position.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline GAlcohol Consumption · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 18-00767

deniedMay 23, 2019· Hon. Elizabeth M. Matchinski· hearing

Summary

A 43-year-old nuclear inspector was denied a security clearance under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) due to a history of alcohol dependence and continued alcohol use against medical advice. The applicant was admitted for inpatient alcohol detoxification in February 2013, diagnosed with alcohol dependence. He underwent a second inpatient detoxification in June 2016, receiving a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and being advised to abstain from alcohol upon discharge.

Despite these treatments and medical recommendations, the applicant continued to consume alcohol. This ongoing consumption, coupled with a failure to establish a clear pattern of modified consumption or abstinence, raised significant security concerns. The administrative judge also noted the applicant's minimization of his alcohol problem.

The denial was based on disqualifying conditions related to continued alcohol consumption after diagnosis and a lack of demonstrated change in behavior. The applicant's inability to follow treatment recommendations and his denial of the problem were key factors in the decision to deny his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant continued to consume alcohol after being diagnosed with alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder.
He failed to demonstrate a clear and established pattern of modified consumption or abstinence in accordance with treatment recommendations.
The applicant's denial of his alcohol problem was viewed as minimizing his issues with alcohol.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 22(d)appliedDiagnosis by a Duly Qualified Medical or Mental Health Professional of Alcohol Use Disorder
AG ¶ 22(f)appliedAlcohol Consumption, Which Is Not in Accord with Treatment Recommendations, After a Diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder

Key Rule Quoted

“Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to the exercise of questionable judgment or the failure to control impulses, and can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness.”
— AG ¶ 21

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedOct 15, 2018
Answer filedNov 6, 2018
Hearing heldApr 10, 2019
Decision dateMay 23, 2019

Cite For

Security Concerns Related to Alcohol Consumption Under Guideline G
Impact of Ongoing Alcohol Use Against Medical Advice on Security Clearance Eligibility
The Importance of Acknowledging and Addressing Alcohol Dependency Issues in Security Clearance Cases

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: deniedAUD DIAGNOSED

The judge found against the applicant on multiple allegations related to alcohol consumption, including a diagnosis of alcohol dependence and continued drinking despite treatment recommendations. The applicant's claims of reduced alcohol use were not sufficient to mitigate the concerns raised by his history of alcohol-related issues.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant was admitted for inpatient alcohol-detoxification treatment and diagnosed as alcohol dependence in February 2013.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant was admitted for inpatient alcohol-detoxification treatment in June 2016, diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, and advised on discharge to abstain from alcohol.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant continues to consume alcohol despite his treatment for alcohol dependence/alcohol use disorder.	Against Applicant	Continued Use After Treatment	Denied	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline G). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.