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ISCR Case 19-02516 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 19-02516

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

Case Profile
Decision Date3/31/2020
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Claude R. Heiny II
Government Counsel: Bryan J. Olmos
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 34-year-old operational engineer employed by a defense contractor since October 2018, seeking a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) under Guideline F, financial considerations, citing delinquent student loans and other debts totaling over $16,000. The applicant denied most of the allegations but acknowledged two student loan obligations and indicated he was working to resolve his financial issues.
Key facts revealed that the applicant had been unemployed for approximately nine months in 2017-2018, during which he utilized various resources to manage his debts. He made significant efforts to address his financial obligations after securing employment, including making regular payments on his student loans and other debts. The applicant provided evidence of a repayment plan and demonstrated financial responsibility by creating a budget and participating in financial counseling.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that the financial concerns were mitigated. The judge found that the applicant had taken substantial steps to address his debts, and the circumstances leading to his financial difficulties were largely beyond his control. The judge determined that the applicant's current financial behavior did not cast doubt on his reliability or trustworthiness, thus granting him eligibility for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · For Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 19-02516

grantedMar 31, 2020· Hon. Claude R. Heiny II· hearing

Summary

This case concerns a 34-year-old operational engineer who was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The Statement of Reasons cited delinquent student loans and other overdue debts as the primary issue.

However, the applicant successfully demonstrated financial responsibility. He provided evidence of actively addressing his financial difficulties and making consistent payments on his debts. This included a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors and resolve outstanding obligations.

Ultimately, the judge applied mitigating conditions, finding that the applicant's financial situation was stable and under control. Based on these actions and the demonstrated commitment to resolving his debts, the security clearance was granted.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant provided evidence of addressing his financial difficulties and making consistent payments on debts.
He demonstrated a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors and resolve debts.
The applicant's financial situation was deemed stable and under control.

Conditions Referenced

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(a)appliedBehavior Occurred Long Ago or InfrequentlyThe debts were incurred some time ago and the applicant has acted reasonably by making payments on his delinquent obligations.
AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant experienced unemployment which contributed to his financial issues, but acted responsibly once employed.
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay DebtsThe applicant has made payments on several debts and is actively addressing his financial obligations.

Key Rule Quoted

“A security clearance adjudication is an evaluation of an individual’s judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is not a debt-collection procedure.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedSep 13, 2019
Answer filedOct 14, 2019
Hearing heldJan 15, 2020
Decision dateMar 31, 2020

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
Demonstrating Financial Responsibility Through Consistent Payments
Impact of Unemployment on Financial Obligations

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 F · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant had mitigated the financial concerns related to delinquent student loans and other debts. The applicant demonstrated a commitment to addressing his financial obligations through repayment agreements and financial counseling, leading to a favorable decision for the applicant.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Delinquent student loans and other delinquent debt.	For Applicant	Student Loan Debt	Denied	—	(a) behavior happened long ago / infrequent / unlikely to recur (b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly (c) received/receiving counseling; problem being resolved	Claimed Debt Paid in Full Claimed Payment Plan with Creditor Documented Financial Counseling

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

Full decision

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