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ISCR Case 20-03486 — CASE

ISCR Case 20-03486denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 20-03486

deniedAug 18, 2022· Hon. Edward W. Loughran· hearing

Summary

A 59-year-old defense contractor employee was denied a security clearance due to unresolved concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from the applicant's history of marijuana use, including instances while already holding a security clearance, which raised questions about judgment, reliability, and willingness to comply with regulations.

Specifically, the applicant's drug involvement and substance misuse were cited as reflecting questionable judgment. Disqualifying conditions under both guidelines were identified, including a history of drug use and a pattern of questionable judgment.

The denial was based on several factors: the applicant's past marijuana use while cleared, expressed intentions to use marijuana in the future, and a failure to provide evidence of mitigating actions to address drug involvement and substance misuse. These issues collectively indicated a lack of commitment to abstain from drug use, leading to the unfavorable decision.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had a history of marijuana use while holding a security clearance, raising reliability concerns.
The applicant expressed intentions to use marijuana in the future, indicating a lack of commitment to abstain from drug use.
The applicant failed to provide evidence of actions taken to mitigate drug involvement and substance misuse.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedAny Substance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance
AG ¶ 25(f)raisedIllegal Drug Use While Granted Access to Classified Information
AG ¶ 16(c)raisedCredible Adverse Information in Several Adjudicative Issue Areas
AG ¶ 16(e)raisedPersonal Conduct Creating Vulnerability to Exploitation

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedFeb 4, 2022
Answer filedFeb 24, 2022Requested decision based on written record.
Hearing held—Decision made without a hearing.
Decision dateAug 18, 2022

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Impact of Personal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline E
Importance of Demonstrating Commitment to Abstain From Drug Use for Security Clearance Approval

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 E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant's drug involvement and substance misuse reflected questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations. The applicant's conduct was deemed to create vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, and duress, leading to a decision against the applicant under Guideline E.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant's drug involvement and substance misuse reflects questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations.	Against Applicant	Questionable Judgment General	—	Denied	—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant has a history of marijuana use, including while holding a security clearance. The applicant's illegal drug use was not mitigated, leading to a decision against the applicant under Guideline H.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has a history of marijuana use, including while holding a security clearance.	Against Applicant	MarijuanaWHILE CLEARED	Frequent	Admitted	(a) any substance misuse (c) illegal possession, cultivation, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or paraphernalia	—	—
1.b–1.d	3 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (for the applicant). (low confidence)	For Applicant	Unspecified Drug Involvement	Unspecified		—	—	—

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

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

HEARING

APPEARANCES

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 20-03486 ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Allison Marie, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se 08/18/2022

STATEMENT OF CASE

LOUGHRAN, Edward W., Administrative Judge: Applicant did not mitigate the security concerns under Guidelines E (personal conduct) and H (drug involvement and substance misuse). Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Statement of the Case On February 4, 2022, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to Applicant detailing security concerns under Guidelines E and H. Applicant responded to the SOR on February 24, 2022, and requested a decision based on the written record in lieu of a hearing. The Government’s written case was submitted on March 28, 2022. A complete copy of the file of relevant material (FORM) was provided to Applicant, who was afforded an opportunity to file objections and submit material to refute, extenuate, or mitigate the security concerns. Applicant received the FORM on May 10, 2022. As of June 27, 2022, he had not responded. The case was assigned to me on August 4, 2022. The Government exhibits included in the FORM are admitted in evidence without objection.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Applicant is a 59-year-old employee of a defense contractor. He has worked for his current employer since 2004. He seeks to retain a security clearance, which he has held since about 2008. He has an associate degree. He is twice married and divorced. He has three children. (Items 4-7) Applicant has a history of marijuana use. In his 2008 Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF 86), he reported using marijuana about seven to ten times between 2001 and 2007. His employer is a major defense contractor with a drug-free workplace policy, with the following guidance to employees: “Even though marijuana has been legalized in certain U.S. states, it is still considered illegal under federal law. Therefore, our company prohibits its use, even in locations where it is not against state law.” (Items 3, 4, 6-8) Applicant either continued using marijuana or resumed using marijuana after he obtained his security clearance. He reported on his August 2018 SF 86 that he used marijuana between 1984 and July 2018, including while holding a security clearance. It is unclear from the record whether he was granted access to classified information when he used marijuana. He indicated that his “[u]se varied, helped with depression and stress at times. Frequency varied. Consecutive days to months going by with no use.” He indicated that he did not intend to use marijuana in the near future, but perhaps he would use it again at some point in the future. (Items 3, 5, 6, 8) Applicant provided similar information when he was interviewed for his background investigation in October 2018. He stated that THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) helped with his depression and stress. He stated that he used it primarily by himself and sometimes with friends. He still associated with those friends, but if they smoked marijuana, he would not participate. (Item 6) In his response to interrogatories in December 2019, Applicant reported his last THC use as November 2019. He indicated that he did not intend to use THC at that time, but that could change if federal laws change. He admitted in his response to the SOR that he intended to use marijuana in the future “in context of the law.” (Items 3, 8) He did not respond to the FORM, so additional information is not available.

POLICIES

This case is adjudicated under Executive Order (EO) 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; DOD Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2, 1992), as amended (Directive); and the adjudicative guidelines (AG), which became effective on June 8, 2017. When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines list potentially

disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for access to classified information. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, administrative judges apply the guidelines in conjunction with the factors listed in the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision. According to AG ¶ 2(c), the entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the “whole-person concept.” The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires that “[a]ny doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.” Under Directive ¶ E3.1.14, the Government must present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, the applicant is responsible for presenting “witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by the applicant or proven by Department Counsel.” The applicant has the ultimate burden of persuasion to obtain a favorable security decision. A person who seeks access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence. This relationship transcends normal duty hours and endures throughout off-duty hours. The Government reposes a high degree of trust and confidence in individuals to whom it grants access to classified information. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation of potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified information. Section 7 of EO 10865 provides that adverse decisions shall be “in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also EO 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information).

ANALYSIS

Guideline H, Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse The security concern for drug involvement and substance misuse is set out in AG ¶ 24: The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner

inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person’s ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any “controlled substance” as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above. The guideline notes several conditions that could raise security concerns under AG ¶ 25. The following are potentially applicable in this case: (a) any substance misuse (see above definition); (c) illegal possession of a controlled substance, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia; (f) any illegal drug use while granted access to classified information or holding a sensitive position; and (g) expressed intent to continue drug involvement and substance misuse, or failure to clearly and convincingly commit to discontinue such misuse. Applicant possessed and used marijuana, including while holding a security clearance. AG ¶¶ 25(a) and 25(c) are applicable. Applicant was granted a security clearance in 2008, but it is unclear from the record whether he was granted access to classified information when he used marijuana. Eligibility for access to classified information and the granting of access to classified information are not synonymous concepts. They are separate determinations. The issuance of a security clearance is a determination that an individual is eligible for access to classified national security information up to a certain level. Security clearance eligibility alone does not grant an individual access to classified materials. In order to gain access to specific classified materials, an individual must have not only eligibility (i.e., a security clearance), but also must have signed a nondisclosure agreement and have a “need to know.” See ISCR Case No. 20-03111 at 3 (App. Bd. Aug. 10, 2022). Additionally, SOR ¶ 1.bdoes not allege that Applicant used marijuana “while granted access to classified information”; it alleges that he used marijuana “after being granted access to classified information.” As such, it does not allege the conduct identified in AG ¶ 25(g). The allegation does not allege any conduct that is not already alleged in SOR ¶ 1.a; it merely pleads an aggravating factor that does not raise any additional disqualifying conditions. When the same conduct is alleged twice in the SOR under the same guideline, one of the duplicative allegations should be resolved in Applicant’s favor. See ISCR Case No. 03-04704 at 3 (App. Bd. Sep. 21, 2005). SOR ¶ 1.bis concluded for Applicant.

Applicant’s stated intention to use marijuana in the future was apparently contingent upon marijuana becoming legal under federal law. AG ¶ 25(g) is not applicable. SOR ¶ 1.dis concluded for Applicant. SOR ¶ 1.calleges the same marijuana use as SOR ¶ 1.a, except it adds that it was in violation of his employer’s policy. That allegation does not allege any conduct that is not already alleged; it merely pleads an aggravating factor that does not raise any additional disqualifying conditions. SOR ¶ 1.cis concluded for Applicant. AG ¶ 26 provides conditions that could mitigate security concerns. The following are potentially applicable: (a) the behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual’s current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; and (b) the individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, including, but not limited to: (1) disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts; (2) changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; and (3) providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security eligibility. Applicant used marijuana while holding a security clearance. He continued to use it after he submitted his SF 86 in August 2018 in which he stated that he did not intend to use marijuana again in the near future, but perhaps he would use it again at some point. He continued to use it after his background interview in October 2018. He used it until November 2019, which was only a month before he responded to interrogatories. Applicant is well aware that marijuana possession is still a federal crime, and inconsistent with holding a security clearance. None of the mitigating conditions are applicable, and Applicant’s illegal drug use is not mitigated. Guideline E, Personal Conduct The security concern for personal conduct is set out in AG ¶ 15, as follows: Conduct involving questionable judgment, lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations can raise questions

about an individual’s reliability, trustworthiness and ability to protect classified information. Of special interest is any failure to provide truthful and candid answers during the security clearance process or any other failure to cooperate with the security clearance process. AG ¶ 16 describes conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying. The following disqualifying conditions are potentially applicable: (c) credible adverse information in several adjudicative issue areas that is not sufficient for an adverse determination under any other single guideline, but which, when considered as a whole, supports a whole- person assessment of questionable judgment, untrustworthiness, unreliability, lack of candor, unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations, or other characteristics indicating that the individual may not properly safeguard classified or sensitive information; and (e) personal conduct, or concealment of information about one’s conduct, that creates a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or other individual or group. Such conduct includes: (1) engaging in activities which, if known, could affect the person’s personal, professional, or community standing. Applicant’s drug involvement and substance misuse is cross-alleged under Guideline E. That conduct reflects questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations. The conduct also created vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, and duress. AG ¶ 16(e) is applicable. AG ¶ 16(c) is not perfectly applicable because that conduct is sufficient for an adverse determination under the drug involvement and substance misuse guideline. However, the general concerns about questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations contained in AG ¶¶ 15 and 16(c) are established. AG ¶ 17 provides conditions that could mitigate security concerns. The following are potentially applicable: (c) the offense is so minor, or so much time has passed, or the behavior is so infrequent, or it happened under such unique circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on the individual’s reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; (d) the individual has acknowledged the behavior and obtained counseling to change the behavior or taken other positive steps to alleviate the stressors, circumstances, or factors that contributed to untrustworthy, unreliable, or other inappropriate behavior, and such behavior is unlikely to recur; and

(e) the individual has taken positive steps to reduce or eliminate vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress. The analysis under Guideline H applies equally here. Personal conduct security concerns are not mitigated.

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

Under the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance by considering the totality of the applicant’s conduct and all relevant circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at AG ¶ 2(d): (1) the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct; (2) the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation; (3) the frequency and recency of the conduct; (4) the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct; (5) the extent to which participation is voluntary; (6) the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes; (7) the motivation for the conduct; (8) the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and (9) the likelihood of continuation or recurrence. Under AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant eligibility for a security clearance must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole-person concept. I considered the potentially disqualifying and mitigating conditions in light of all the facts and circumstances surrounding this case. I have incorporated my comments under Guidelines E and H in my whole-person analysis. Overall, the record evidence leaves me with questions and doubts about Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. I conclude Applicant did not mitigate the security concerns under Guidelines E (personal conduct) and H (drug involvement and substance misuse).

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by section E3.1.25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are: Paragraph 1, Guideline H: Against Applicant Subparagraph 1.a: Against Applicant Subparagraphs 1.b-1.d: For Applicant Paragraph 2, Guideline E: Against Applicant Subparagraph 2.a: Against Applicant

________________________

CONCLUSION

It is not clearly consistent with the national interest to continue Applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is denied. Edward W. Loughran Administrative Judge