Summary
A 38-year-old information technology professional with military service was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) and Guideline K (Handling Protected Information). The government alleged 12 delinquent debts totaling $147,968. One student loan, delinquent in 2018 and referred for collection in January 2019, was resolved in May 2019.
More significantly, the applicant faced allegations of multiple security violations while employed as an information systems security officer (ISSO). These included failing to properly perform oversight duties, falsifying records in 2016 and 2017 to indicate completed audits of classified systems, and leaving a computer hard drive unsecured in February 2016. Additionally, he allegedly failed to follow security procedures for personal international travel in May and December 2016, and did not properly secure a classified area and container in January 2017.
While some financial issues were mitigated, the judge found that the serious nature of the unresolved security violations, including deliberate falsifications regarding audit logs and failures to secure sensitive information, raised significant doubts about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness. Consequently, the security clearance was denied.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had multiple unresolved security violations at a previous employer.
- The applicant committed deliberate falsifications regarding audit logs and failed to secure sensitive information properly.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 34(b)raisedCollecting or Storing Protected Information in Any Unauthorized Location
- AG ¶ 34(g)raisedAny Failure to Comply with Rules for the Protection of Classified or Sensitive Information
- AG ¶ 34(h)raisedNegligence or Lax Security Practices That Persist Despite Counseling by Management
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's Control
- AG ¶ 35(d)appliedThe Violation Was Inadvertent, It Was Promptly Reported, There Is No Evidence of Compromise, and It Does Not Suggest a Pattern
Key Rule Quoted
“A security clearance decision is intended only to resolve whether it is clearly consistent with the national interest for an applicant to either receive or continue to have access to classified information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedMay 24, 2019
- Answer filed—
- Hearing heldJan 28, 2020Hearing conducted via MS Teams.
- Decision dateJun 16, 2020
Cite For
- Security Violations Impacting Trustworthiness Under Guideline K
- Mitigation of Financial Issues Under Guideline F
- Deliberate Falsification of Records as a Disqualifying Factor