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ISCR Case 23-02402 — CASE

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ISCR Case 23-02402

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

Case Profile
Decision Date11/18/2025
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Related decisionsSee the appeal decision (Case ISCR Case No. 23-02402) →See the hearing decision (Case 23-02402) →See the hearing decision (Case ISCR Case No. 23-02402) →See the hearing decision (Case 23-02402) →
Participants
Judge: Mark W. Harvey
Government Counsel: Andrea M. Corrales
Applicant's Counsel: Carl Anthony Marrone
Case Summary
Applicant, a 31-year-old help desk technician employed by a federal contractor, sought a security clearance after submitting her application on March 30, 2023. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) on November 23, 2023, citing security concerns under Guidelines H (drug involvement and substance misuse) and E (personal conduct). The SOR alleged that Applicant had a history of marijuana and cocaine use, misuse of prescription medication Adderall, and selling Adderall without a prescription.
During the hearings, Applicant admitted to the allegations regarding her drug use and misuse but denied the personal conduct allegations. She provided explanations for her past behavior, attributing her drug use to coping mechanisms during a difficult childhood and subsequent traumatic experiences. Applicant expressed her commitment to abstaining from drug use, supported by testimony from coworkers and family members who attested to her positive changes and personal growth. She also underwent drug testing, which returned negative results.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of Applicant, granting her eligibility for access to classified information. The judge found that the mitigating factors, including Applicant's demonstrated intent to refrain from drug use, her supportive relationships, and her positive work performance, outweighed the security concerns raised in the SOR. The judge noted the credibility of the character witnesses and Applicant's proactive steps toward rehabilitation as significant factors in the decision.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · For Applicant
- Guideline HDrug Involvement & Substance Misuse · For Applicant
Similar decisions
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-02402

grantedNov 18, 2025· Hon. Mark W. Harvey· hearing

Summary

A 33-year-old help desk technician was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The allegations stemmed from the applicant's admitted past drug use, which raised disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines (AG) ¶ 25(a) and AG ¶ 25(c).

However, the administrative judge found that significant mitigating factors outweighed these concerns. The applicant demonstrated a consistent pattern of abstinence from illegal drug use for over 30 months. Additionally, the applicant provided credible character references that attested to her reliability and trustworthiness, and showed a commitment to personal growth within a supportive family environment.

These mitigating conditions, specifically AG ¶ 26(a), AG ¶ 26(b), AG ¶ 26(b)(3), and AG ¶ 17(c), led the judge to conclude that the security risks were sufficiently mitigated. Consequently, the applicant was granted eligibility for access to classified information.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant established a pattern of abstinence from illegal drug use for over 30 months.
The applicant provided credible character references attesting to her reliability and trustworthiness.
The applicant demonstrated a commitment to personal growth and a supportive family environment.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 25(a)raisedSubstance Misuse
AG ¶ 25(c)raisedIllegal Possession of a Controlled Substance

Mitigating

AG ¶ 26(a)appliedBehavior Unlikely to Recur
AG ¶ 26(b)appliedAcknowledgment and Actions Taken to Overcome Drug Involvement
AG ¶ 26(b)(3)appliedSigned Statement of Intent to Abstain From Drug Involvement
AG ¶ 17(c)appliedMinor Offense or Unique Circumstances

Key Rule Quoted

“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedNov 23, 2023
Answer filedJan 12, 2024
Hearing heldAug 28, 2025via video teleconference
Decision dateNov 18, 2025

Cite For

Mitigation of Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Consideration of Personal Conduct Under Guideline E
Importance of Character References in Security Clearance Cases

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.