Summary
This case concerns a 28-year-old senior field technician II whose eligibility for a security clearance was reviewed under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The Statement of Reasons alleged that in 2011, the applicant misused an employer-issued credit card and made repeated false statements to his employer regarding its use and status.
The judge ultimately granted the applicant eligibility for access to classified information, finding that he had responsibly mitigated the security concerns. The applicant's financial difficulties were attributed to circumstances beyond his control, such as a divorce and underemployment. He demonstrated responsible financial behavior by living within his means and not incurring new delinquent debts since 2011.
Regarding the credit card misuse, the judge determined it was a minor, one-time incident that occurred over five years prior to the review. This issue was further mitigated by the applicant's credible testimony and the repayment of the debt.
Why the Applicant Prevailed
- The applicant's financial difficulties were largely due to circumstances beyond his control, including a divorce and underemployment.
- He demonstrated responsible behavior by living within his means and not incurring new delinquent debts since 2011.
- The one-time misuse of the credit card was minor, occurred over five years ago, and was mitigated by the applicant's credible testimony and repayment of the debt.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 16(f)raisedViolation of a Written or Recorded Commitment Made by the Individual to the Employer as a Condition of Employment
- AG ¶ 20(a)appliedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur and Does Not Cast Doubt on the Individual’s Current Reliability, Trustworthiness, or Good Judgment
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control and the Individual Acted Responsibly Under the Circumstances
- AG ¶ 20(d)appliedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
- AG ¶ 17(c)appliedThe Offense Is so Minor, or so Much Time Has Passed, or the Behavior Is so Infrequent, or It Happened Under Such Unique Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur and Does Not Cast Doubt on the Individual's Reliability, Trustworthiness, or Good Judgment
Key Rule Quoted
“A security clearance adjudication is an evaluation of a person’s judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is not a debt-collection procedure.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 29, 2015
- Answer filedFeb 2, 2016
- Hearing heldJul 26, 2016
- Decision dateJan 9, 2017
Cite For
- Mitigation of Financial Difficulties Under Guideline F Due to Circumstances Beyond Control
- One-time Minor Misuse of Employer-issued Credit Card Under Guideline E
- Good Faith Efforts to Resolve Debts and Improve Financial Responsibility