CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 23-00794 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 23-00794

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

Case Profile
Decision Date11/20/2024
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Edward W. Loughran
Government Counsel: Mark D. Lawton
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 46-year-old employee of a defense contractor who sought a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons citing concerns under Guidelines G (alcohol consumption) and I (psychological conditions). The core allegations included the applicant's history of alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and incidents of threatening behavior linked to his alcohol use.
Key facts established during the proceedings revealed that the applicant had a significant history of alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder, with multiple treatment episodes beginning in late 2018. He admitted to ongoing binge drinking and acknowledged that he had not fully adhered to treatment recommendations to abstain from alcohol. Although he claimed that his drinking did not affect his job performance, he had experienced severe mental health symptoms, including suicidal ideation and aggressive behavior during episodes of intoxication. The applicant's testimony indicated a lack of sustained sobriety, with his longest period of abstinence being only three to four months.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he did not mitigate the security concerns related to his alcohol consumption and psychological conditions. The judge noted the applicant's failure to demonstrate a consistent commitment to sobriety and the potential risks to judgment and reliability posed by his ongoing alcohol use. The decision emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to ensure the applicant's trustworthiness for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline GAlcohol Consumption · Against Applicant
- Guideline IPsychological Conditions · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
Finding similar decisions…

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-00794

deniedNov 20, 2024· Hon. Edward W. Loughran· hearing

Summary

A 46-year-old defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) and Guideline I (Psychological Conditions). The applicant had a documented history of alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and a rule-out diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. These conditions were associated with behaviors such as suicidal ideations, violent outbursts, and an arrest for terroristic threats.

The Statement of Reasons specifically cited the applicant's history of alcohol problems and diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, as well as mental health issues including major depressive disorder, suicidal ideations, and generalized anxiety disorder. Concerns were also raised regarding behavior that cast doubt on his judgment and stability, including violent outbursts and an arrest.

The denial was based on the applicant's failure to mitigate security concerns related to unresolved alcohol consumption and psychological conditions. His history of binge drinking and inability to maintain sobriety raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness. Furthermore, behavioral issues, including suicidal ideations and violent outbursts, indicated impaired judgment and stability, leading to the ultimate denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant failed to mitigate security concerns related to unresolved alcohol consumption and psychological conditions.
The applicant's history of binge drinking and inability to maintain sobriety raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Behavioral issues, including suicidal ideations and violent outbursts, indicated impaired judgment and stability.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 22(c)appliedHabitual or Binge Consumption of Alcohol
AG ¶ 22(d)appliedDiagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder
AG ¶ 28(a)appliedBehavior Casting Doubt on Judgment and Stability
AG ¶ 28(b)appliedOpinion of Mental Health Professional Indicating Impairment
AG ¶ 28(d)appliedFailure to Follow Treatment Plan

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 issuedAug 23, 2023
Answer filedSep 26, 2023
Hearing heldJun 6, 2024
Decision dateNov 20, 2024

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Alcohol Use Disorder Under Guideline G
Impact of Psychological Conditions on Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline I
Consideration of Behavioral Issues in Assessing Reliability and Trustworthiness.

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 G (Alcohol Consumption) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: deniedAUD DIAGNOSED

The judge found against the applicant on the allegation of having a history of alcohol problems and being diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. The applicant's ongoing issues with alcohol consumption and failure to comply with treatment recommendations were significant factors in the decision to deny the application for a security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant has a history of alcohol problems and was diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	(c) habitual or binge consumption to the point of impaired judgment (d) diagnosis of alcohol use disorder by a qualified professional (e) failure to follow treatment advice once diagnosed (f) alcohol consumption after a diagnosis, contrary to treatment	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline I (Psychological Conditions) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant has a history of mental health issues, including major depressive disorder and suicidal ideations, which raised concerns about his judgment and stability. The applicant was also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and had a rule-out diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. Additionally, the applicant exhibited violent behavior, including outbursts and an arrest for terroristic threats, which further contributed to the decision to deny his security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
1.a	specific text not stated in this decision	Against Applicant	Unspecified Psychological Condition	Unknown	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant has a history of mental health issues, including major depressive disorder and suicidal ideations.	Against Applicant	Mood Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.c	Applicant was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and has a rule-out diagnosis of bipolar I disorder.	Against Applicant	PTSD or Anxiety Diagnosed	Admitted	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.d	Applicant exhibited behavior that casts doubt on his judgment and stability, including violent outbursts and an arrest for terroristic threats.	Against Applicant	Violent or Aggressive Episode	Unknown	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—

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

Full decision

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