Facility Security Officers (FSO) are charged with a special job in the national security space. They are the individuals who maintain office classification procedures and processes and are on the front lines of receiving self-reporting requests, SF-86 applications, and other key aspects of the industrial security program. But who’s watching the watchers? That’s actually a part of the argument one FSO proctored who was denied a security clearance.
True or False: If You’re a FSO, You Don’t Have to Self-Report Your Own Security Issues
A recent Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals case outlined an individual whose security clearance was revoked due to Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The appeal doesn’t outline what the financial issues were. As we’ve seen, financial issues are the top cause of security clearance and some of the most diverse. When it comes to what financial issues will tank your security clearance and which won’t, it’s truly a case-by-case basis. Some individuals have been able to successfully obtain a clearance despite credit card debts and bankruptcies. Others may not have – it typically comes down to how the issues are addressed – or not addressed.
For this recent clearance denial case, however, we’ll never know what the financial issues were – because the applicant didn’t argue against any of the statements of fact related to the financial issues, but argued that her clearance issue was that because she was an FSO – she had no one to report her financial issues to. Secondly, she indicated that she hadn’t received notice of the intent to deny eligibility (a typical ‘blame the FSO’ defense which is tough to argue when you’re the FSO). Finally, she asked the judge to reconsider her credit report which had already been submitted (and which it sounds like may have been a part of the initial denial).
The security clearance process is obtuse – it is not uncommon for applicants who are denied a clearance to be unclear about self reporting guidance, confused about the role of their security officer, or lack an understanding of the security clearance adjudicative guidelines used to determine clearance eligibility. Unfortunately that’s not a good argument for a FSO. A FSO should know how to report issues to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and should be aware of the process of receiving a Statement of Reasons (in this case the court noted the applicant had in fact responded to the SOR at some point so she clearly received it somehow).
False: FSOs do not get to play outside of the clearance rules and must report potential clearance issues like everyone else.
We all like to think we’re special. And FSOs are special. But in this case, they are especially responsible for knowing and understanding the clearance process and procedures. All too often we’re motivated by fear and pride. Everyone can encounter financial issues. But trying to keep them hidden from the government – or failing to report them – will never work to your advantage.
