Summary
A 31-year-old former U.S. Air Force member was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), H (Drug Involvement), I (Psychological Conditions), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had a history of psychiatric treatment, nonjudicial punishment for drug use, and provided false information on his security clearance application.
Specifically, the applicant received psychiatric treatment in November 2018 for depression and anxiety, expressing suicidal ideations during hospitalization. From December 2018 to April 2019, he continued treatment for adjustment disorder and an unspecified personality disorder, with a poor prognosis. He also received nonjudicial punishment under the UCMJ in February 2019 for wrongful use of testosterone and again in April 2019 for wrongful use of letrozole. He was also charged with abusive sexual contact under UCMJ Article 120 and received a general discharge from the Air Force in May 2019.
The applicant deliberately failed to disclose his November 2018 hospitalization, illegal drug use, and a December 2018 security clearance suspension on his August 2019 security clearance application. The judge found the applicant's denials of suicidal ideations and drug use not credible, concluding that his actions and history of providing false information raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness, leading to the denial of his security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant failed to mitigate security concerns related to psychological conditions, criminal conduct, drug involvement, and personal conduct.
- The judge found the applicant's denials of suicidal ideations and drug use not credible based on conflicting evidence.
- The applicant's history of providing false information on his security clearance application raised significant doubts about his reliability.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 28(a)appliedBehavior That Casts Doubt on an Individual's Judgment, Stability, Reliability, or Trustworthiness.
- AG ¶ 28(b)appliedAn Opinion by a Duly Qualified Mental Health Professional That the Individual Has a Condition That May Impair Judgment, Stability, Reliability, or Trustworthiness.
- AG ¶ 31(b)appliedEvidence of Criminal Conduct, Regardless of Whether the Person Was Formally Charged, Formally Prosecuted or Convicted.
- AG ¶ 25(a)appliedAny Substance Misuse.
- AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts From Any Personnel Security Questionnaire.
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedApr 13, 2022
- Answer filedApr 16, 2022
- Hearing heldMar 1, 2023
- Decision dateJun 26, 2023
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Psychological Conditions Under Guideline I
- Credibility Issues Related to Applicant's Denials of Drug Use and Mental Health Treatment
- Disqualifying Conditions Related to Personal Conduct and False Statements on Security Clearance Applications