Summary
A 43-year-old defense contractor employee was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The Statement of Reasons included allegations that the applicant failed to report 2014 marijuana use on his 2018 SF 86. Financial allegations included owing $8,990 in federal and $1,692 in state income taxes for 2015, six delinquent debts totaling approximately $17,300, an unnamed $777 medical debt, and a $4,518 charged-off auto loan.
While the applicant successfully mitigated the financial issues, which stemmed from periods of unemployment and underemployment, he failed to mitigate concerns related to his marijuana use and the falsification of information on his security clearance application. The judge found that the applicant intentionally omitted relevant information about his marijuana use, raising significant concerns about his candor, reliability, and trustworthiness.
The denial was based on the applicant's lack of candor and questionable judgment, specifically regarding his 2014 marijuana use and the omission of this information from his application. Disqualifying conditions under Guideline E were raised, and while mitigating conditions under Guideline F were applied, they did not overcome the personal conduct issues.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant intentionally omitted relevant information regarding his marijuana use on his security clearance application.
- The applicant's lack of candor raised significant concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
- The applicant's marijuana use in 2014 and the circumstances surrounding it indicated questionable judgment.
Conditions Referenced
- E2.aappliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- E2.cappliedCredible Adverse Information in Several Adjudicative Issue Areas
- E2.eappliedPersonal Conduct That Creates a Vulnerability to Exploitation
- F2.arejectedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- F2.bappliedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control
- F2.cappliedThe Individual Has Received or Is Receiving Financial Counseling
- F2.dappliedThe Individual Initiated and Is Adhering to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
Key Rule Quoted
“A security clearance adjudication is not a debt-collection procedure. It is a procedure designed to evaluate an applicant’s judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedSep 5, 2019
- Answer filedOct 16, 2019
- Hearing heldJun 9, 2021
- Decision dateAug 30, 2021
Cite For
- Issues of Personal Conduct Related to Drug Use and Falsification of Information Under Guideline E
- Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
- The Importance of Candor in Security Clearance Applications