Summary
A 52-year-old quality engineer and former U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had a history of alcohol-related incidents, including arrests and charges for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in 2004, 2005, and 2007. These incidents indicated a pattern of unmanaged alcohol consumption that persisted until after the third DUI in 2007, at which point the applicant was ordered to seek counseling.
Despite completing alcohol counseling and maintaining sobriety for 19 months prior to the decision, the judge determined that this period was insufficient to establish a long-term, reliable pattern of abstinence. The repeated DUIs and the relatively recent period of sobriety raised significant concerns about the applicant's judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.
Ultimately, the judge found that the applicant had not adequately mitigated the concerns related to alcohol abuse and criminal conduct. The security clearance was therefore denied, as the evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate a sustained change in behavior to overcome the established pattern of alcohol-related issues.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had three DUIs between 2004 and 2007, demonstrating a pattern of alcohol abuse.
- The applicant's sobriety period of 19 months was deemed too recent to establish a reliable pattern of abstinence.
- The applicant's alcohol-related incidents raised significant concerns about his judgment and reliability.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 22(a)raisedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work
- AG ¶ 31(a)raisedA Single Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
- AG ¶ 31(c)raisedAllegation or Admission of Criminal Conduct
- AG ¶ 31(d)raisedIndividual Is Currently on Parole or Probation
- AG ¶ 23(a)rejectedBehavior Was Infrequent or Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's alcohol abuse was not infrequent and continued until the third DUI.
- AG ¶ 23(b)rejectedAcknowledgment of Alcoholism and Evidence of Actions TakenThe applicant's pattern of abstinence was not sufficiently established.
- AG ¶ 23(d)rejectedCompletion of Counseling and Favorable PrognosisThe applicant's clinician did not meet the requisite qualifications for this condition.
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information must be resolved in favor of the national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedAug 6, 2008
- Answer filedAug 18, 2008
- Hearing held—Decision issued based on written record.
- Decision dateNov 20, 2008
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Recent Alcohol Abuse and Insufficient Evidence of Rehabilitation
- Impact of Multiple Duis on Security Clearance Eligibility
- Importance of Established Patterns of Sobriety in Alcohol-related Cases