Bartholomew Perez got his start in mechanical engineering after leaving home for university. Later, he earned his master’s in architecture-based enterprise systems engineering, then got a Professional Certificate in Electronic Warfare Technology. He worked for one of the top defense contractors in this space and is now a program lead amongst other things.
How did he get his start in defense at the height of the security clearance backlog by not serving in the United States military? He convinced a contractor to sponsor his security clearance because he had a skillset that was in high demand. One of his concerns in applying for a clearance was foreign influence and preference. But he was honest about on his SF-86 was being born to immigrant parents.
FOREIGN INFLUENCE AND PREFERENCE
Foreign influence or preference adjudicative criteria are standards used by government agencies to evaluate the potential impact of foreign involvement on individuals’ security clearances or eligibility for sensitive positions. These criteria help assess the risks associated with foreign influence and preference, such as the potential for coercion, exploitation, or unauthorized disclosure of classified information. Some common factors considered in these criteria include foreign contacts, financial interests, foreign travel, foreign preference, and foreign business relationships. Agencies use these criteria to ensure that individuals with access to sensitive information or positions of trust are not unduly influenced or compromised by foreign entities.
In evaluating foreign influence/preference, agencies look at the nature and extent of an individual’s relationships and connections with foreign nationals or entities. They assess whether these relationships could create conflicts of interest or make the individual vulnerable to manipulation or coercion. Financial interests in foreign countries, such as investments or properties, are also scrutinized to determine if they could compromise the individual’s loyalty to the United States. Additionally, frequent foreign travel or a pattern of seeking foreign preferences may raise concerns about the individual’s allegiance and reliability.
By applying these criteria rigorously, agencies strive to safeguard national security and protect sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure or exploitation by foreign actors. Like everything else in applying for security clearance, Perez’s story showcases that it is always in your best interest to be upfront and forthcoming with information in your background and how it relates to the adjudicative guidelines.
