Summary
A 34-year-old telecommunications technician was denied a security clearance under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline H (Drug Involvement). The denial stemmed from a history of marijuana use between 1997 and 2000, and multiple job terminations. Specific allegations included a prior clearance denial in June 1999 for falsifying an application by denying marijuana use, and being fired from a defense contractor position in June 1999 for failing to report to work.
Further employment issues included a February 1994 termination for refusing to identify a co-worker who falsified a time card, and an August 1993 termination for unannounced absence. The applicant also falsified his March 2001 security clearance application (SF-86) by understating drug use and denying prior job terminations.
Despite the applicant's stated intent to abstain from drug use, the history of illegal substance use, multiple involuntary job terminations, and repeated misstatements and omissions regarding both drug use and employment history raised significant security concerns, leading to the denial of the clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had a history of illegal drug use (marijuana) over a four-year period.
- The applicant was terminated from multiple jobs, raising concerns about judgment and reliability.
- The applicant made multiple misstatements and omissions in security clearance applications and interviews regarding drug use and employment terminations.
Conditions Referenced
- DC1raisedAny Drug Use.
- DC2raisedIllegal Drug Possession, Including Cultivation, Processing, Manufacture, Purchase, Sale, or Distribution.
- DC2raisedThe Deliberate Omission, Concealment, Falsification or Misrepresentation of Relevant and Material Facts.
- DC3raisedDeliberately Providing False or Misleading Information Concerning Relevant and Material Matters to an Investigator.
- MC1appliedThe Drug Involvement Was Not Recent.
- MC3appliedA Demonstrated Intent Not to Abuse Any Drugs in the Future.
Key Rule Quoted
“The ultimate determination of an applicant's eligibility for a security clearance depends, in large part, on the relevance and materiality of that evidence.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedNov 20, 2003
- Answer filedJan 23, 2004
- Hearing heldAug 3, 2004
- Decision dateJan 26, 2005
Cite For
- Disqualifying Conditions Related to Drug Use Under Guideline H
- Disqualifying Conditions Related to Personal Conduct Under Guideline E
- The Importance of Candor in Security Clearance Applications.