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ISCR Case USN-C No. 23-00027-R — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case USN-C No. 23-00027-R

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date3/9/2023
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Braden M. Murphy
Government Counsel: Alison P. O'Connell
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 55-year-old former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who sought a security clearance after a lengthy military career. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing concerns under multiple adjudicative guidelines, including Guideline G (alcohol consumption), Guideline H (drug involvement and substance misuse), Guideline I (psychological conditions), and Guideline J (criminal conduct). The core allegations involved the applicant's history of substance abuse, criminal charges, and psychological issues, including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
During the proceedings, the applicant admitted to a history of substance abuse, including daily use of cocaine and marijuana from 2012 to 2015, and acknowledged several criminal incidents, including arrests for DUI and assault. He claimed to have undergone treatment for his issues and asserted that he had committed to abstaining from illegal drugs due to a religious conversion. However, he also reported recent relapses and continued struggles with alcohol and marijuana use, which were noted in a medical evaluation that diagnosed him with alcohol and cannabis dependence.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he had not provided sufficient evidence to mitigate the security concerns raised in the SOR. The judge emphasized the applicant's ongoing issues with substance abuse and psychological conditions, which were deemed to pose a material defect in his ability to safeguard classified information. Consequently, the applicant's eligibility for access to classified information was denied.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline GAlcohol Consumption · Against Applicant
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · Against Applicant
- Guideline IPsychological Conditions · Against Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. USN-C No. 23-00027-R

deniedMar 9, 2023· Hon. Braden M. Murphy· hearing

Summary

A 55-year-old former Navy lieutenant commander was denied a security clearance due to significant concerns under Guidelines G (Alcohol Consumption), H (Drug Involvement), I (Psychological Conditions), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant presented a long history of substance abuse, involving both alcohol and illegal drugs, marked by multiple relapses.

Disqualifying conditions were raised under AG ¶ 21, AG ¶ 24, AG ¶ 27, and AG ¶ 30. The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to mitigate security concerns related to his psychological conditions and criminal conduct. Recent evaluations indicated ongoing issues with substance dependence and non-compliance with treatment recommendations.

Despite ongoing counseling and treatment, the applicant's history of substance abuse, criminal behavior, and psychological conditions raised substantial doubts about his judgment and reliability, ultimately leading to the denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant has a long history of substance abuse, including alcohol and illegal drugs, with multiple relapses.
He failed to provide sufficient evidence to mitigate security concerns related to his psychological conditions and criminal conduct.
Recent evaluations indicated ongoing issues with substance dependence and non-compliance with treatment recommendations.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 21raisedAlcohol Consumption
AG ¶ 24raisedDrug Involvement and Substance Misuse
AG ¶ 27raisedPsychological Conditions
AG ¶ 30raisedCriminal Conduct

Key Rule Quoted

“The objective of the security clearance process is the fair-minded, commonsense assessment of a person’s life to make an affirmative determination whether the person is eligible for a security clearance.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMay 25, 2022
Answer filedJul 8, 2022
Hearing heldFeb 14, 2023via video-teleconference
Decision dateMar 9, 2023

Cite For

Denial Based on Intertwined Issues of Substance Abuse and Criminal Conduct
Impact of Psychological Conditions on Security Clearance Eligibility
Importance of Demonstrating Sustained Recovery and Compliance with Treatment Plans

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

Full decision

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