As you create your master plan for success, consider the variety of tools needed to gain a competitive edge in your industry. By familiarizing oneself with the extensive US Security Clearance Process, you can begin to prepare and access opportunities that help you excel. At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to: a. Identify a series of career paths and associated tools to improve job marketability. b. List a series of certification and association option. c. Review the security clearance process and associated misconceptions and mistakes.

1. WANT A SECURITY CLEARANCE ?
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Presenter Robbin Johnson, CISSP
Moderator Doretta Boazzo

2. Careers in The Intelligence Community

3. What is The Purpose of a Security
Clearance?
 The purpose of personal security clearance
is to determine whether a person is able and
willing to safeguard classified national
security information, based on his or her
loyalty, character, trustworthiness, and
reliability.

4. Who May
Apply for Security Clearance?
Individuals cannot apply for a personnel
security clearance application on their own.
Rather, the company determines whether
an employee will require access to
classified information in performance of
tasks or services related to the fulfillment
of a classified contract.
Once the company makes this
determination, the individual may be
processed for a security clearance.

5. How Many Types or Levels of
Security Clearance are There?
 There are three levels of security clearance,
with the highest level being
TOP SECRET (“grave danger to ns ”)
SECRET (“serious danger”)
CONFIDENTIAL (“some damage”)
 In addition, some classified information has
extra protection measures applied such as
SCI and Special Access Programs (SAP).
Special approval must be given to have
access to this information

6. Who Issues Personal Security
Clearance?
The Department of Defense issues
personnel security clearances for DOD
civilians, military and contractor personnel
who require access to classified
information.
 However other DOD agencies issue
clearances (intelligence agency)

7. Security Clearance Process
How long does it take to process a collateral
security clearance?
 Secret Approx. 1-6 months (no issues)
 Top Secret Approx. 3-9 months ((no issues)
 With issues 10, 12, 16, 18 months or longer
What is the process?
 Pre-investigation – filling out the appropriate forms
and applications process
 Investigation –OPM conducts the background checks
on the individual (fingerprint check)

8. Background Investigation
SF 86 (10 years of your past)
Interviews, neighbors, friends
Criminal background checks
Speeding tickets
Computer crimes, circumventing security
measures, gaining unauthorized
passwords, Credit Checks/bank
records/bankruptcies
Verify school records

9. Background Continued
 Foreign travel
 Foreign affiliations
 Allegiance to the US
 Interview sit down with Investigator. May need
multiple interviews before to tie up loose ends
before report is finalized
 Polygraph test CI or Full Scope Lifestyle

10. Adjudication
Allegiance to the United States
Foreign Influence
Foreign Preference
Sexual Conduct
Personal Conduct
Financial Considerations

11. Adjudication
Alcohol Consumption
Drug Involvement
Psychological Conditions
Criminal Conduct
Handling Protected Information

12. Pitfalls to Retention
Nature, Extent and Seriousness of
Conduct
Circumstances surrounding Conduct
Frequency and how recent was the
Conduct
Age and maturity at time of Conduct
Extent of participation
Presence or Absence of Behavioral
Changed
Motivation for the Conduct

13. More Pitfalls
• Extent of participation
• Presence or Absence of Behavioral
Changed
• Motivation for the Conduct
• Potential for Pressure, Exploitation,
Coercion or Duress
• Likelihood of Continuation or Recurrence

14. CASE STUDY A
Topic: Financial, Personal Conduct
-15 credit cards Totaling $100,000
-All debts settled or successfully disputed
-Sought credit counseling service and
established a viable budget
-Hired attorney to resolve a difficult debt
Should we grant or deny clearance?

15. Case Study B
Topic: Financial Personal, Criminal Conduct
-27 year old employee of defense contractor
-History of criminal actions, traffic infractions,
irresponsible financial decisions.
-Appears to be headed in the right direction
but has not yet established a track record of
responsible behavior
Should we grant or deny clearance?

16. Case Study C
Topic: Foreign Influence, Personal Conduct
-Applicant born and educated in Morocco
-Came to US in 1999 and became US citizen in 2007
-Married a Moroccan in 2004. she intends to become a
US citizen
-All family members live in Morocco
-Retained Moroccan passport after becoming a US
citizen; destroyed it when he learned it raised security
concerns
-On security clearance application, failed to disclose 2
civil actions and some of his foreign travel, because he
did not understand the questions; answered truthfully
during interview
 Should we grant or deny clearance?

17. Questions