ISCR Case No. 21-01689

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 21-01689 ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Rhett E. Petcher, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Pro se 06/10/2022

LOUGHRAN, Edward W., Administrative Judge: Applicant mitigated the security concerns under Guidelines E (personal conduct) and H (drug involvement and substance misuse). Eligibility for access to classified information is granted. Statement of the Case On September 29, 2021, 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 December 22, 2021, and requested a hearing before an administrative judge. The case was assigned to me on March 28, 2022. The hearing was convened as scheduled on May 25, 2022. Government Exhibits (GE) 1 and 2 were admitted in evidence without objection. Applicant testified and submitted Applicant’s Exhibits (AE) A through J, which were admitted without objection.

Applicant is a 30-year-old employee of a defense contractor. He has worked for his current employer since February 2018. He is applying for a security clearance for the first time. He has a bachelor’s degree that he earned in 2014, and he is attending graduate school for a master’s degree. He is married without children. (Transcript (Tr.) at 21-22; GE 1; AE B, E, G) Applicant used marijuana sporadically from when he was a teenager until about August 2020. His employer has a drug-free policy. He used MDMA (3,4- methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), a controlled substance, once in 2015 and again in 2017. He purchased Adderall in Mexico, where it is an over-the-counter drug. He used Adderall that was not prescribed to him on two occasions from January to March 2020. (Tr. at 17-18, 22-26; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2; AE B)

Applicant reported his drug use on the Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86) he submitted in October 2020. He fully discussed his drug use during his background interview in December 2020. He has not used any illegal drugs since August 2020. (Tr. at 17; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2; AE A, B) Applicant’s wife occasionally used marijuana. She stopped as a sign of support for him. Applicant and his wife signed statements of intent to abstain from all drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of his national security eligibility. Recreational marijuana use does not violate state law in Applicant’s state. As such, it is difficult for Applicant to completely disassociate himself from people who use marijuana, but he avoids it to the extent possible. He credibly testified that he does not intend to use marijuana or any other illegal drug in the future. (Tr. at 17-22, 28; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 2; AE A, B, H-J) Applicant volunteers in his community. He submitted documents and letters attesting to his excellent job performance and moral character. He is praised for his professionalism, efficiency, courtesy, responsibility, ethics, and honesty. (Applicant’s response to SOR; AE C, F)

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).

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); and (c) illegal possession of a controlled substance, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia. Applicant possessed and used marijuana, MDMA, and Adderall. The above disqualifying conditions are applicable. 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 has not used any illegal drugs since August 2020. He credibly testified that he does not intend to use illegal drugs in the future. He fully disclosed his drug involvement on his SF-86 and throughout the security clearance proceedings, which bolsters his credibility. He signed a 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. His conduct no longer casts doubt on his reliability, trustworthiness, and good judgment. I find that Applicant has abstained from illegal drug use for an appropriate period, and that illegal drug use is unlikely to recur. AG ¶¶ 26(a) and 26(b) are applicable. 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 condition is potentially applicable: (g) association with persons involved in criminal activity. Applicant’s wife no longer uses illegal drugs. However, in a state where marijuana is against federal law, but does not violate state law, Applicant still has some association with people who use marijuana. AG ¶ 16(g) is applicable. AG ¶ 17 provides conditions that could mitigate security concerns. The following are potentially applicable: (g) association with persons involved in criminal activities was unwitting, has ceased, or occurs under circumstances that do not cast doubt upon the individual’s reliability, trustworthiness, judgment, or willingness to comply with rules and regulations. Applicant’s wife no longer uses illegal drugs, but in a state that has made recreational marijuana use legal under state law, it is increasingly difficult to cut all ties with individuals who use marijuana. I am satisfied that Applicant avoids it to the extent possible. Applicant’s association with persons involved in marijuana use occurs under circumstances that do not cast doubt upon his reliability, trustworthiness, judgment, or willingness to comply with rules and regulations. AG ¶ 17(g) is applicable.

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 have incorporated my comments under Guidelines E and H in my whole-person analysis. I also considered Applicant’s favorable character evidence. Overall, the record evidence leaves me without questions or doubts about Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. I conclude Applicant mitigated the security concerns under Guidelines E (personal conduct) and H (drug involvement and substance misuse).

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: For Applicant Subparagraphs 1.a-1.d: For Applicant Paragraph 2, Guideline E: For Applicant Subparagraph 2.a: For Applicant

It is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant Applicant eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is granted. Edward W. Loughran Administrative Judge