If you have a security clearance through the Department of Defense, the security clearance system of record used to manage your security clearance will be changing – but perhaps not as soon as you might think. The Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) was set to sunset on Dec. 31. An update via the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) on Dec. 15 noted the phaseout of JPAS would be extended to make more time for a successful transition to the new Defense Information System for Security (DISS).
The change is significant for the Facility Security Officers (FSOs) who manage personnel security clearances, but seamless for the average security clearance applicant, whose relationship with security clearance technology is generally exclusive to the eAPP online security clearance application.
The move to DISS is a part of the larger effort to overhaul all of the technology behind the security clearance process. The new National Background Investigation Service will replace some OPM legacy IT systems that are more than 50 years old. DCSA is still supporting the legacy technology as it works to find ways to successfully transition all core functions to the new system. All companies supporting cleared workers should now have access to DISS, but those who still need JPAS will be able to continue using both systems until the transition is complete. DCSA is planning for a goals-based rather than a timeline based phaseout, but anticipates being able to bring JPAS offline in April of 2021.
For cleared professionals, it’s less important which security clearance system of record is in play than ensuring clearance details are accurate and current. Individuals who are currently cleared and who would like to know the status of a pending clearance upgrade or investigation should be able to query their company FSO or government security officer/authority. Individuals who have worked in cleared positions previously but not currently can submit a Privacy Act request to obtain a copy of their clearance records and get more information on their clearance status.
