Summary
A 51-year-old hardware engineer was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), G (Alcohol Consumption), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had a long history of alcohol dependence, consuming alcohol to the point of intoxication from 1968 to at least June 2004. This led to poor judgment, including missed work and financial difficulties. He received treatment for excessive alcohol consumption from January 2001 to October 2003 and was diagnosed with alcohol dependence by medical professionals.
In December 2003, the applicant was convicted of evading arrest/detention after consuming alcohol. During interviews with a security investigator on January 12 and 15, 2004, he allegedly omitted this arrest. While the judge found insufficient evidence of deliberate misleading during the security investigation regarding the omission, the applicant's alcohol-related issues remained central to the denial.
Despite attending AA almost daily since September 13, 2005, and reporting no alcohol consumption since August 2005, the applicant lacked a sufficient record of recent sobriety. The denial was based on his long-standing alcohol consumption problem, diagnosed dependence, history of alcohol-related incidents, and the resulting concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Why the applicant was denied
- The applicant has a long-standing alcohol consumption problem with insufficient recent sobriety.
- The applicant's alcohol dependence was diagnosed, and he had a history of alcohol-related incidents.
- The applicant's conduct raised concerns about reliability and trustworthiness.
Conditions referenced
- E2.A7.1.2.1raisedAlcohol-related Incident Away From Work
- E2.A7.1.2.3raisedDiagnosis of Alcohol Dependence
- E2.A7.1.2.6raisedContinued Alcohol Consumption After Diagnosis
- E2.A5.1.2.3rejectedDeliberately Providing False or Misleading InformationThe judge found insufficient evidence to conclude the applicant deliberately misled the investigator.
- E2.A10.1.2.1raisedAllegations or Admissions of Criminal Conduct
- E2.A10.1.2.2raisedSingle Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
- E2.A7.1.3.1appliedAlcohol-related Incidents Do Not Indicate a Pattern
- E2.A7.1.3.3appliedPositive Changes Supportive of Sobriety
- E2.A10.1.3.1appliedCriminal Behavior Was Not Recent
- E2.A10.1.3.2appliedCriminal Conduct Was an Isolated Incident
Key rule quoted
“"No one has a 'right' to a security clearance."”
Procedural posture
- SOR issuedAug 11, 2005
- Answer filedSep 19, 2005
- Hearing heldApr 26, 2006
- Decision dateJun 30, 2006
Cite for
- Denial of Clearance Due to Insufficient Sobriety Record Under Guideline G
- Insufficient Evidence of Deliberate Misleading Under Guideline E
- Mitigating Conditions for Isolated Criminal Conduct Under Guideline J