Learning Objective: Examine the process of achieving a U.S. Security Clearance 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. This seminar will guide you through the processing of getting and keeping a U.S. security clearance. Further, we will explore the future and emerging career opportunities that require various clearance levels. 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 options. c) Review the security clearance process and associated misconceptions and mistakes.

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October 15, 2016
Detroit Marriott
Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI
Want a Security
clearance?
This is what
you need to
know
TED IMES
LINDSAY MAY
MONICA PRINGLE

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Security Clearance Levels
Top Secret (TS): The highest level of classification of material
on a national level. Such material would cause "exceptionally
grave damage" to national security if publicly available.
Secret (S): Such material would cause "serious damage" to
national security if publicly available.
Confidential (C): Such material would cause "damage" or be
"prejudicial" to national security if publicly available.
Restricted: Such material would cause "undesirable effects" if
publicly available. Some countries do not have such a
classification.
Unclassified (U): Technically not a classification level, but is
used for government documents that do not have a classification
listed above. Such documents can be viewed by those without
security clearance.

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All About Security Clearances
THE SECURITY CLEARANCE
Eligibility for access to classified information,
commonly known as a security clearance, is
granted only to those for whom an appropriate
personnel security background investigation has
been completed. It must be determined that the
individual’s personal and professional history
indicates;
 loyalty to the United States
 strength of character
 trustworthiness, honesty, reliability
 discretion, and sound judgment
 freedom from conflicting allegiances and potential for
coercion
 and a willingness and ability to abide by regulations
governing the use, handling, and protection of classified
information.

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All About Security Clearances
 Eligibility will be granted only where facts and
circumstances indicate access to classified
information is clearly consistent with the
national security interests of the United States.
 Access to classified information will be
terminated when an individual no longer has
need for access.

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All About Security Clearances
 If the position requires access to classified
information, the position will be given an
appropriate security classification.
 Individuals applying to these positions must
undergo a personnel security background
investigation.

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All About Security Clearances
THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
The personnel security background
investigation begins after an individual has
been given a conditional offer of employment
and has completed the appropriate security
questionnaire, usually a Standard Form 86,
Questionnaire for National Security Positions,
and other required forms. It is required that
job candidates complete the questionnaire
and other required forms thoroughly, honestly,
and with candor.

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SF86 – Questionnaire for
National Security Positions
PURPOSE
Used by the U.S. Government to conduct
background investigations,
reinvestigations and continuous
evaluations of individuals under
consideration or retention of classified
security positions under Executive Order
12968.

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The Investigative Process
 Inquiry is also made about your adherence to
security requirements, trustworthiness,
honesty, integrity, etc.
 Federal agency checks may also be made on
your spouse, cohabitants and immediate
family members.

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Upcoming changes as a result of the
OPM hack
 National Background Investigations Bureau
(NBIB) to conduct investigations (will absorb
Federal Investigative Service)
 Head appointed by president; will report to head
of OPM
 IT system designed, built, secured, and
operated by Pentagon
 Expected to solve some of the root causes of
the backlog of clearance investigations

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Are You Clearable?
The clearance process looks at the "whole person" to verify
character, reliability, judgment, and trustworthiness.
Elements of a security check:
 Criminal background investigation – criminal history
records for the most recent ten years are reviewed
 Verification of Citizenship and date/place of birth –
individuals must be a citizen to receive a security
clearance
 Education – all degrees and diplomas are verified
 Employment – all employment within the most recent
seven years are verified
 Financial status – financial status within the most recent
seven years are verified
 Verification of public records – includes divorces,
bankruptcies, and other civil and criminal court actions
 References – former spouse (if applicable) and four
character interviews (two not listed by you)

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What can prevent me from receiving a
security clearance?
With rare exceptions the following will result in a clearance
denial:
 criminal conviction resulting in incarceration for a
period of one year or more
 current unlawful use of or addiction to a controlled
substance
 determined to be mentally incompetent by a mental
heath professional approved by DoD
 discharge or dismissal from the Armed Forces under
dishonorable conditions
 unwillingness to surrender a foreign passport
The 2005 "Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for
Access to Classified Information" list various conditions under 13
separate guidelines that could result in clearance denial.

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Additional Obligations
 Additional paperwork – reporting of new
foreign contacts, reporting foreign travel
(sometimes required in advance), reporting
other adverse information
 Possible restrictions on where you can travel
 You probably can’t talk about the details of
your job and, in some cases, you may not
even want to make it known that you have a
clearance-required job.

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Sensitive Compartmented Information
(SCI) and Special Access Programs (SAP)
 Widely misunderstood as classification levels or
specific clearances are the terms "Sensitive
Compartmented Information" (SCI)[ and
"Special Access Program" (SAP)
 The terms refer to methods of handling certain
types of classified information that relate to
specific national-security topics or programs
whose existence may not be publicly
acknowledged, or the sensitive nature of which
requires special handling.

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SCI or SAP?
The paradigms for these two categories, SCI originating in
the intelligence community and SAP in the Department of
Defense, addresses two key logistical issues encountered
in the day-to-day control of classified information:
 Individuals with a legitimate need-to-know may not
be able to function effectively without knowing
certain Top Secret facts about their work. However,
granting all such individuals a blanket DoD
clearance (often known as a "collateral" clearance)
at the Top Secret level would be undesirable, not to
mention prohibitively expensive.

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SCI or SAP?
 The government may wish to limit certain types of
sensitive information only to those who work directly
on related programs, regardless of the collateral
clearance they hold. Thus, even someone with a
collateral DoD Top Secret clearance cannot gain
access unless it is specifically granted.
 SAP and SCI implementation are roughly
equivalent, and it is reasonable to discuss their
implementation as one topic. For example, SAP
material needs to be stored and used in a facility like
the SCIF.

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Need-to-Know
 Depending on the level of classification, there are
different rules controlling the level of clearance
needed to view such information, and how it
must be stored, transmitted, and destroyed.
 Access is restricted on a "need to know" basis.
Simply possessing a clearance does not
automatically authorize the individual to view all
material classified at that level or below that
level. The individual must present a legitimate
"need to know" in addition to the proper level of
clearance.

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Need-to-Know

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Types of Cleared Jobs

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Questions?

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Useful Links
SECURITY CLEARANCE FAQS
– http://www.aawdc.org/cyber/content_files/c
areer_content/security_clearance_faq.pdf