Summary
A 39-year-old electrical engineer, who had held a secret security clearance since 1998, was denied a renewed clearance due to concerns under Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), G (Alcohol Consumption), H (Drug Involvement), and J (Criminal Conduct). The denial stemmed from a long history of drug and alcohol abuse spanning from 1977 to 2003, with incidents occurring even while he possessed a clearance.
Specific allegations included daily alcohol consumption, often to excess, from 1977 to at least December 2002, leading to two arrests for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in 2000 and 2001. He was terminated from employment in January 2002 for reporting to work under the influence of alcohol and had a history of doing so while holding a clearance. The applicant also used various drugs, including marijuana, amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, Oxycontin, PCP, and quaaludes, from 1977 to at least January 2003.
Furthermore, the applicant failed to disclose the full extent of his substance abuse on his security clearance application renewal and in sworn statements, minimizing his drug use and making false statements. He continued to use drugs after providing sworn statements to an investigator and admitted to violating employer drug policies and lying about his substance abuse. Despite two years of sobriety and treatment, the judge found that the applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns, concluding that his past drug use was not isolated and that he had a history of dishonesty regarding his substance abuse.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, including while holding a security clearance.
- He failed to disclose the full extent of his substance abuse on his security clearance application and in sworn statements.
- The judge found that the applicant's past drug use was not isolated and that he had a history of lying about his substance abuse.
Conditions Referenced
- E2.A8.1.2.1raisedAny Drug Abuse
- E2.A8.1.2.3raisedDiagnosis by a Credentialed Medical Professional of Drug Abuse or Drug Dependence
- E2.A8.1.2.5raisedFailure to Successfully Complete a Drug Treatment Program Prescribed by a Credentialed Medical Professional
- E2.A7.1.2.1raisedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work
- E2.A7.1.2.2raisedPattern of Excessive Alcohol Consumption
- E2.A7.1.2.3raisedDiagnosis by a Credentialed Medical Professional of Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Dependence
- E2.A7.1.2.4raisedFailure to Successfully Complete a Prescribed Alcohol Treatment Program
- E2.A9.1.2.1raisedCriminal Conduct
- E2.A9.1.2.2raisedPattern of Criminal Activity
- E2.A9.1.2.3raisedFailure to Comply with Rules and Regulations
- E2.A9.1.2.4raisedLack of Candor
- E2.A8.1.3.4appliedSatisfactory Completion of a Prescribed Drug Treatment Program
- E2.A8.1.3.1rejectedThe Drug Involvement Was Not RecentThe judge found that the applicant's past drug use was not isolated and that he had a history of lying about his substance abuse.
- E2.A8.1.3.2rejectedThe Drug Involvement Was an Isolated or Aberrational EventThe judge found that the applicant's past drug use was not isolated and that he had a history of lying about his substance abuse.
- E2.A8.1.3.3rejectedA Demonstrated Intent Not to Abuse Any Drugs in the FutureThe judge found that the applicant's past drug use was not isolated and that he had a history of lying about his substance abuse.
Key Rule Quoted
“The sole purpose of a security clearance determination is to decide if it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue a security clearance for an applicant.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedNov 2, 2005
- Answer filedNov 7, 2005Applicant requested a hearing.
- Hearing heldApr 11, 2006
- Decision dateMay 12, 2006
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Security Concerns Under Multiple Guidelines Due to a History of Substance Abuse
- Impact of Past Criminal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility
- Importance of Full Disclosure in Security Clearance Applications