February 2009
Monthly Archive
Review of Security Clearance News in ‘08
Posted by admin on 26 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Cleared News, Getting/Updating a Clearance, Investigations, Security Clearance Jobs
In January the Smith Amendment was repealed and replaced by Bond Amendment prohibiting all federal agencies from granting or renewing any security clearance for a current user of illegal drugs…
February, President Bush issued a memorandum to all executive branch departments and agencies directing that DoD, DNI, OPM, OMB and assistant to the President for National Security Affairs submit a proposal by April 30, 2008 to modernize, standardize, and integrate comprehensive credentialing, security clearance, and suitability processes...
During the month of March, Congress sent a request to the GAO asking for a formal evaluation of Intelligence Community security clearance processes and the DNI’s pilot project for security clearance reform…
The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the National Defense Industrial Association surveyed more than 100 contractors that provide security-cleared labor to federal agencies in April. The companies identified several complaints about the current clearance system. An article in the Washington Business Journal on April 25, 2008 reported information from a survey…read the entire year in review.
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Ask Your Clearance Questions – Part 19
Posted by admin on 24 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Getting/Updating a Clearance, Investigations
Our popular ongoing series allows you to ask your most complex questions regaring security clearances and our regular contributors of present and former clearance investigators and adjudicators will try to answer them. The rules are listed below. Failure to abide by them will mean your question will be deleted.
NOTE: Due to the volume of questions we receive, we cannot answer all of them. Selected questions that have not been answered in the past will likely be answered.
If you would like a guaranteed private answer to your question, please see here.
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Please read over previous threads to see if your question has already been answered. Use the Search tool to locate specific keywords.
Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission (SWFT)
Posted by admin on 19 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Cleared News, Getting/Updating a Clearance, Investigations
A February 18, 2009 article at Tradingmarkets.com reported that ATS Corporation (ATSC) was awarded a new $6 million contract with the Defense Security Service (DSS) for the Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission (SWFT) system.
ATSC will develop, deploy and maintain a web-enabled biometric system to transmit electronic fingerprints to DSS and the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) as part of the security clearance background investigation process.
The SWFT system will enable federal contractors to submit electronic fingerprints and identifying information for security clearance applicants. A pilot project for the system was conducted in 2008. Implementation and deployment of the new system will begin this year.
Criminal Conduct and Security Clearances II
Posted by admin on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Cleared Career Advice, Getting/Updating a Clearance, Investigations
This is the second of a two-part article on the relevance and effect of criminal conduct on security clearances. Part 1 covered the Relevance of Criminal Conduct to Security Clearances.
Posted on ClearanceJobs.com, the article focuses on the effects of criminal conduct on security clearances.
EVALUATING CRIMINAL CONDUCT
Although, Criminal Conduct is always a security/suitability concern; it becomes a potentially disqualifying condition under the Adjudicative Guidelines when it involves:
“(a) A single serious crime (felony) or multiple lesser offenses (infractions or misdemeanors).
“(b) Discharge or dismissal from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.
“(c) Allegation or admission of criminal conduct, regardless of whether the person was formally charged, formally prosecuted or convicted.
“(d) Individual is currently on parole or probation.
“(e) Violation of parole or probation, or failure to complete a court-mandated rehabilitation program.
“(f) Convicted in any court of the United States of a crime, sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year, and incarcerated as a result of that sentence for not less than 1 year.â€
MITIGATING SECURITY CONCERNS
The following conditions may mitigate Criminal Conduct concerns:
Multiple Lesser Offenses Not Serious
Multiple minor traffic infractions without allegations of other criminal conduct would not be an issue under the Criminal Conduct criterion. However, they can be considered under the Personal Conduct criterion along with any other dishonest, unreliable, or rule-breaking behavior.
Alleged Crime Not Committed
Security clearance adjudications do not use the same standard of evidence used in criminal proceedings. Once the government has… Â read more.
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Workers Notified After SRA Virus Breach
Posted by admin on 05 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Chit-Chat, Cleared News, Cybersecurity, Investigations, Security Clearance Jobs
A FCW.com article on the 4 Feb 09 has confirmed that SRA International’s computer network was infected by a virus, which may have exposed a number of federal employees’ personal information.
“The breached information could include names, addresses, dates of birth, health information and Social Security numbers. Personal company computers with data from questionnaires related to employees security positions may have been exposed to unauthorized access too, according to SRA’s notification letter.”
Hackers may have also been able to access the data SRA collects in its security position questionnaires, the company said. SRA doesn’t know if any data has been compromised but is taking the precaution of notifying customers that their data may have been accessed…
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