ISCR Case 24-01399

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-01399

deniedFeb 3, 2026· Hon. Charles C. Hale· hearing

Summary

A former U.S. Navy Operations Specialist was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption), Guideline I (Psychological Conditions), and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had a history of alcohol-related incidents, including three arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) between July 2018 and February 2020. These incidents led to inpatient treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe, from April to June 2019, and court-ordered individual alcohol treatment from November 2020 to February 2021. A licensed clinical psychologist again diagnosed the applicant with Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe, in April 2024.

Disqualifying conditions were raised regarding alcohol consumption, psychological conditions, and criminal conduct. While the applicant demonstrated some mitigating factors for criminal conduct, specifically nearly five years without a DUI or DWI and evidence of rehabilitation, these were not sufficient to overcome the concerns.

The denial was based on multiple alcohol-related incidents, which raised significant doubts about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness. Psychological evaluations indicated ongoing issues with alcohol use disorder, questioning judgment and stability. The applicant's testimony about moderating alcohol consumption was not fully credible, as he admitted to drinking to intoxication as recently as February 2023. The judge ultimately found unresolved issues regarding the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had multiple alcohol-related incidents, including three DUIs, which raised significant concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
The applicant's psychological evaluations indicated ongoing issues with alcohol use disorder and questioned his judgment and stability.
The applicant's testimony about moderating his alcohol consumption was not fully credible, as he admitted to drinking to intoxication as recently as February 2023.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 22(a)appliedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work
AG ¶ 22(c)appliedHabitual or Binge Consumption of Alcohol
AG ¶ 28(a)appliedBehavior That Casts Doubt on Judgment
AG ¶ 28(b)appliedOpinion by a Mental Health Professional Indicating Impairment
AG ¶ 31(a)appliedPattern of Minor Offenses
AG ¶ 31(b)appliedEvidence of Criminal Conduct
AG ¶ 31(d)appliedViolation of Probation

Mitigating

AG ¶ 32(a)appliedTime Elapsed Since Criminal Behavior
AG ¶ 32(d)appliedEvidence of Successful Rehabilitation

Key Rule Quoted

“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
— Exec. Or. 10865 § 2.

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedSep 6, 2024
Answer filedNov 11, 2024
Hearing heldJul 31, 2025
Decision dateFeb 3, 2026

Cite For

Security Concerns Regarding Alcohol Consumption Under Guideline G
Impact of Psychological Conditions on Security Clearance Under Guideline I
Criminal Conduct and Its Implications for Reliability and Trustworthiness Under Guideline J

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

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
1.a	You have consumed alcohol, at times in excess and to the point of intoxication, since about age 21 to at least February 2024.	Against Applicant	Binge or Intoxication Pattern	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	In about July 2018, you were arrested on base for violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Failure to Obey Order or Regulation and State – Traffic Offenses – Driving Under Influence (DUI) Liquor.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	In about January 2019 you were arrested in Virginia for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	—	—	—
1.d	You received inpatient treatment at [a military treatment facility], from about April 2019 to about June 2019, for a condition diagnosed as Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	—	—	—
1.e	In about February 2020, you were arrested in [a state] and charged with DWI: 2nd Offense Within 5 Years and DWI: Refusal of Breath Test, 2nd Offense.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	—	—	—
1.f	You received court-ordered individual alcohol treatment at [treatment facility] from about November 2020 to about February 2021.	Against Applicant	Treatment Non Compliance	Admitted	—	—	—
1.g	You were evaluated by a licensed clinical psychologist on April 3, 2024. The psychologist diagnosed you with Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Incident

Response

Disqualifying (¶22)

Mitigating applied (¶23)

Mitigation

1.a

You have consumed alcohol, at times in excess and to the point of intoxication, since about age 21 to at least February 2024.

Against Applicant

Binge or Intoxication Pattern

Admitted

—

1.b

In about July 2018, you were arrested on base for violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Failure to Obey Order or Regulation and State – Traffic Offenses – Driving Under Influence (DUI) Liquor.

Against Applicant

DUI or DWI Alcohol

Admitted

—

1.c

In about January 2019 you were arrested in Virginia for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

Against Applicant

DUI or DWI Alcohol

Admitted

—

1.d

You received inpatient treatment at [a military treatment facility], from about April 2019 to about June 2019, for a condition diagnosed as Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.

Against Applicant

Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed

Admitted

—

1.e

In about February 2020, you were arrested in [a state] and charged with DWI: 2nd Offense Within 5 Years and DWI: Refusal of Breath Test, 2nd Offense.

Against Applicant

DUI or DWI Alcohol

Admitted

—

1.f

You received court-ordered individual alcohol treatment at [treatment facility] from about November 2020 to about February 2021.

Against Applicant

Treatment Non Compliance

Admitted

—

1.g

You were evaluated by a licensed clinical psychologist on April 3, 2024. The psychologist diagnosed you with Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.

Against Applicant

Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed

Admitted

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
2.a	You have a diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.	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…	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Type

Response

Disqualifying (¶28)

Mitigating applied (¶29)

Mitigation

2.a

You have a diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe.

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…

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Offense	Criminal disposition	Response	Disqualifying (¶31)	Mitigating applied (¶32)	Mitigation
3.a	You have not had DUI or DWI in almost five years and established evidence of successful rehabilitation through the passage of time without recurrence of criminal activity.	For Applicant	DUI or DWI Criminal	Conduct No Charge	Denied	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Offense

Criminal disposition

Response

Disqualifying (¶31)

Mitigating applied (¶32)

Mitigation

3.a

You have not had DUI or DWI in almost five years and established evidence of successful rehabilitation through the passage of time without recurrence of criminal activity.

For Applicant

DUI or DWI Criminal

Conduct No Charge

Denied

—

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Summary

Why the Applicant Was Denied

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision