CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 24-00650 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 24-00650

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

Case Profile
Decision Date9/23/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Pamela C. Benson
Government Counsel: Rhett E. Petcher
Case Summary
the security concerns raised in the Statement of Reasons (SOR) against the applicant, who was a 29-year-old electronics maintenance technician employed by a defense contractor. The SOR cited concerns under Guidelines I (psychological conditions), G (alcohol consumption), and E (personal conduct). The core allegations included a history of severe alcohol use disorder, repeated intoxication while on duty, and failure to disclose his diagnosis during a DOD interview.
The applicant admitted to several allegations, including a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and a history of self-harm and suicidal ideations. He denied other allegations, claiming a misunderstanding regarding his alcohol consumption while on duty. Despite acknowledging past treatment for his conditions, he had not consistently complied with medical advice, including abstaining from alcohol and adhering to prescribed medications. The applicant testified that he had not consumed alcohol since April 2023 and believed he could manage his bipolar disorder through lifestyle changes.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that he had not sufficiently mitigated the security concerns. The judge noted the applicant's inconsistent statements regarding his diagnosis and treatment, as well as his history of noncompliance with medical recommendations. The decision emphasized that the applicant's psychological conditions and alcohol consumption posed a risk to national security, leading to the denial of his eligibility for access to classified information.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · Against Applicant
- 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. 24-00650

deniedSep 23, 2025· Hon. Pamela C. Benson· hearing

Summary

A 29-year-old Navy veteran and electronics maintenance technician was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline I (Psychological Conditions), Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption), and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The applicant had a documented history of severe alcohol use disorder, including consuming alcohol to excess and reporting to work intoxicated on multiple occasions, even while standing armed watch, up until at least April 2023.

Furthermore, the applicant was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and experienced suicidal ideations, leading to inpatient psychiatric services. Despite these diagnoses, the applicant was noncompliant with treatment recommendations and was not receiving current treatment for his ongoing psychological issues.

Credibility concerns arose from the applicant's dishonesty during the clearance process. He denied an alcohol abuse diagnosis to a DOD investigator and falsified material facts in his reply to interrogatories regarding being under the influence of alcohol at work. The judge determined that the applicant's untreated mental health conditions, history of excessive alcohol use, and lack of candor raised significant doubts about his reliability and trustworthiness, leading to the denial of his security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had a history of severe alcohol use disorder and was noncompliant with treatment recommendations.
He exhibited ongoing psychological issues, including bipolar disorder and suicidal ideations, without receiving current treatment.
The applicant provided false information during the security clearance investigation, raising credibility concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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 ¶ 22(a)appliedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work.
AG ¶ 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts.

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedAug 15, 2024
Answer filed—
Hearing heldJul 2, 2025via online video teleconferencing
Decision dateSep 23, 2025

Cite For

Denial of Clearance Due to Unresolved Psychological Conditions Under Guideline I
Excessive Alcohol Consumption as a Disqualifying Factor Under Guideline G
Dishonesty During the Clearance Process Impacting Reliability Under Guideline E

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 E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on allegations of personal conduct under Guideline E. The applicant denied being diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence and falsified information regarding being under the influence of alcohol while at work. The judge concluded that the applicant did not mitigate the security concerns related to these allegations.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
3.a	Applicant denied being diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence during an interview with a DOD investigator.	Against Applicant	Lack of Candor in InterviewFOUND DELIBERATE	Other	Denied	—	—	—
3.b	Applicant falsified material facts in his reply to interrogatories regarding being under the influence of alcohol while at work.	Against Applicant	Falsification Security FormFOUND DELIBERATE	Other	Denied	—	—	—
3.c	specific text not stated in this decision	Against Applicant	Unspecified Personal Conduct	—	Unknown	—	—	—

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

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: deniedAUD DIAGNOSED

The judge found that the applicant consumed alcohol excessively and reported to work intoxicated on multiple occasions, including while standing armed watch. The applicant was diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder in August 2018 and continued to consume alcohol despite medical advice to abstain. The case was denied due to the applicant's failure to mitigate the security concerns related to alcohol consumption.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant consumed alcohol, at times to excess and to the point of intoxication, on various occasions up until at least April 2023.	Against Applicant	Binge or Intoxication Pattern	Admitted	—	—	—
2.b	Applicant reported to work intoxicated on multiple occasions, including when standing armed watch.	Against Applicant	Intoxication at Work or Duty	Admitted	—	—	—
2.c	specific text not stated in this decision	Against Applicant	Unspecified Alcohol Incident	Denied	—	—	—

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: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant had significant psychological concerns, including a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and a history of suicidal ideations. The applicant's admissions regarding alcohol use disorder and hazardous behaviors contributed to the decision against granting security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant was diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, severe, and engaged in hazardous behaviors while under the influence of alcohol.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Psychological Condition	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… (c) voluntary or involuntary inpatient hospitalization	—	—
1.b	Applicant was admitted for inpatient psychiatric services due to suicidal ideations and was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, depressed severe, and alcohol use disorder, in remission.	Against Applicant	Suicidal Ideation or Attempt	Denied	(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… (c) voluntary or involuntary inpatient hospitalization	—	—
1.c–1.g	5 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (against the applicant). (low confidence)	Against Applicant			—	—	—

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.