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ISCR Case 10-02955.a1 — CASE

ISCR Case 10-02955.a1denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 10-02955.a1

Jul 15, 2011· Hon. Michael Y. Ra'anan· appeal

Summary

A former U.S. Navy service member was denied a security clearance under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to unresolved financial issues. These issues included delinquent debts and a car repossession. The applicant had been employed for over four years, and while he cited his wife's illness as a contributing factor to his financial difficulties, the judge determined this did not sufficiently mitigate his financial responsibilities.

The denial was based on the applicant's failure to demonstrate adequate mitigation of his financial problems despite his employment. The judge concluded that the wife's illness did not sufficiently impact his financial obligations to excuse the outstanding debts.

Ultimately, the applicant's longstanding failure to repay creditors raised significant concerns regarding his fitness to hold a security clearance, leading to the denial being affirmed.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 20(a)raisedFinancial Considerations
AG ¶ 20(c)raisedFinancial Considerations

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedFinancial ConsiderationsThe applicant's evidence did not demonstrate that his financial difficulties were due to circumstances beyond his control.
AG ¶ 20(e)rejectedFinancial ConsiderationsThe applicant failed to show a good faith effort to repay debts.

Key Rule Quoted

“The general standard is that a clearance may be granted only when ‘clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.’”
— Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedNov 18, 2010
Answer filed—Applicant requested a decision on the written record.
Hearing heldApr 28, 2011
Decision dateJul 15, 2011

Cite For

Affirmation of the Burden of Persuasion on the Applicant for Mitigation Under Guideline F
Consideration of Personal Circumstances in Financial Issues Without Sufficient Evidence of Impact
The Standard for Granting Security Clearance as Consistent with National Security Interests

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

Appeal at a glance· Full written decision

Affirmed

The appeal involved an applicant who was denied a security clearance based on financial considerations under Guideline F. The applicant argued that the Judge failed to consider significant evidence and that the decision was arbitrary. The Board affirmed the Judge's decision, finding no harmful error in the analysis of the evidence.

Appealed bythe applicant

Applicant representationPro se (self-represented)

Judge belowClaude R. Heiny — denied the clearance

Decided onthe written record

Guidelines belowGuideline F

What the Board reviewed

Judge mis-weighed or ignored evidence — raised by the applicantRejected
Applicant contended that the Judge failed to consider or mis-weighed significant record evidence favorable to him.
Decision arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law — raised by the applicantRejected
Applicant argued that the Judge's adverse decision was arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.

Why the Board ruled this way

The Board found that the Judge's decision was supported by substantial evidence and that the Judge did not fail to consider all relevant evidence. The Board concluded that the Judge's findings and conclusions were not arbitrary or capricious and were consistent with the national security interests.

Standard of review applied

Harmful-error gatekeeperSubstantial-evidence reviewArbitrary-and-capricious reviewNo de-novo re-decisionNo new evidence on appealBurden of persuasion

Appeal Board panel

Michael Y. Ra’anan — Chair
Jean E. Smallin
James E. Moody

Descriptive structured reading of this decided, public Appeal Board decision — what the case says, not a prediction or advice.

Full decision

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

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

APPEAL

SYNOPSIS

KEYWORD: Guideline F DIGEST: Applicant bears the burden of persuasion as to mitigation. Applicant has not demonstrated that the Judge failed to consider all the record evidence. Adverse decision affirmed. CASENO: 10-02955.a1 DATE: 07/15/2011 DATE: July 15, 2011 In Re: ----- Applicant for Security Clearance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 10-02955

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT James B. Norman, Esq., Chief Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Pro se The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) declined to grant Applicant a security clearance. On November 18, 2010, DOHA issued a statement of reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis for that decision–security concerns raised under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) of Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). Applicant requested a decision on the written record. On April 28, 2011, after considering the record, Administrative Judge Claude R. Heiny denied Applicant’s request for a security clearance. Applicant appealed pursuant to Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. Applicant raised the following issues on appeal: whether the Judge failed to consider all of the record evidence and whether the Judge’s adverse decision was arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. Consistent with the following, we affirm. The Judge made the following pertinent findings of fact: Applicant works for a Defense contractor. He previously served in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 2006 after twenty years. He was unemployed for two months following his retirement. He married his second wife in 2009. She suffers from cancer and has been receiving treatment since 2010. This treatment caused Applicant to miss a payment on one of his SOR debts, though the record is otherwise silent as to the effect the wife’s illness has had on Applicant’s finances. In 2001, Applicant purchased a car for $25,000. He made timely payments for about two years, but he became unable to continue them. He voluntarily surrendered the car, which resulted in a balance due of $19,373. He agreed to pay the creditor $210 a month till the debt was paid off, but he provided no documentation demonstrating actual payment. Applicant has other delinquent debts–a bank card charge-off and a credit card collection account. These, along with the car repossession, were unpaid as of the close of the record. The SOR alleges two other debts. One of these has been settled, and the other is being paid. The Judge found in Applicant’s favor on these two debts. However, for the remaining three he concluded that Applicant had not demonstrated mitigation. Despite some unemployment and the illness of his wife, Applicant has been employed for over four years without having resolved his ongoing financial problems. The Judge stated, “[Applicant’s] longstanding failure to repay his creditors, at least in reasonable amounts, or to arrange payment plans, reflects traits which raise concerns about his fitness to hold a security clearance.” Decision at 8. Applicant contends that the Judge failed to consider, or mis-weighed, significant record evidence favorable to him, such as his wife’s illness and his service in the Navy. He also states that his failure to pay his debts was not a deliberate effort to avoid his responsibilities. However, a Judge is presumed to have considered all of the record evidence. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 09-06691 at 3-4 (App. Bd. May 16, 2011). In the case under consideration, the Judge noted Applicant’s wife’s illness. However, he stated that the record is silent as to the actual effect the illness has had on Applicant’s ability to pay his debts. Insofar as Applicant bears the burden of persuasion as to mitigation, the Judge’s analysis of Applicant’s evidence is supportable. Applicant has not rebutted the presumption that the Judge considered all of the evidence. Neither has he demonstrated that the Judge mis-weighed the evidence. The record supports a conclusion that the Judge examined the relevant data and articulated a satisfactory explanation for the decision, “including a ‘rational connection between the facts found and the choice made.’” Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of the United States v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983)(quoting Burlington Truck Lines, Inc. v. United States, 371 U.S. 156, 168 (1962)). The Judge’s adverse decision is sustainable on this record. “The general standard is that a clearance may be granted only when ‘clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.’” Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988). See also Directive, Enclosure 2 ¶ 2(b): “Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of the national security.”

ORDER

The Judge’s adverse security clearance decision is AFFIRMED. Signed: Michael Y. Ra’anan Michael Y. Ra’anan Administrative Judge Chairperson, Appeal Board Signed: Jean E. Smallin Jean E. Smallin Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: James E. Moody James E. Moody Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board