Summary
A 53-year-old senior engineer was denied a security clearance due to significant financial concerns under Guideline F. The applicant's history included two bankruptcies: a Chapter 7 filing in February 1995, discharged in June 1995, and a Chapter 13 filing in 2019, dismissed in June 2020.
Additional financial issues included approximately $68,871 in student loan collection accounts, a past-due car loan of $2,667 with a total balance of $33,805, and unpaid judgments totaling about $43,238. The applicant also owed approximately $47,549 in state tax liens and about $84,254 in federal tax debts.
The denial was based on a long history of financial irresponsibility, including multiple bankruptcies and unpaid debts. The judge found insufficient evidence of a reliable track record in managing financial obligations, concluding that the applicant's intentions to resolve debts were too late and inadequate to establish the necessary financial responsibility for a security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant has a long history of financial irresponsibility, including multiple bankruptcies and unpaid debts.
- He failed to provide sufficient evidence of a reliable track record in managing his financial obligations.
- The applicant's intentions to resolve his debts were deemed too late and insufficient to establish financial responsibility.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)appliedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)appliedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 19(f)appliedFailure to File or Fraudulently Filing Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax Returns or Failure to Pay Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax as Required
Key Rule Quoted
“Failure to live within one's means, satisfy debts, and meet financial obligations may indicate poor self-control, lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide by rules and regulations, all of which can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or sensitive information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedNov 22, 2019
- Answer filedFeb 18, 2020
- Hearing heldJan 7, 2022held via Microsoft TEAMS video teleconference
- Decision dateMar 23, 2022
Cite For
- Financial Irresponsibility Under Guideline F
- Insufficient Evidence of Debt Resolution Efforts
- Impact of Financial Issues on Security Clearance Eligibility