Author Archive

Marko Hakamaa

Marko Hakamaa served in various military police positions with the United States Army worldwide for 22 years before retiring in 2006 as a Master Sergeant. Afterwards, he transitioned into the civilian workforce as a contractor background investigator for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before entering civil service as a Security Specialist in 2009.

Security Clearance Denial

Not many are aware that Executive Order 10865 not only provides the authorities and guidance for safeguarding classified information, but it also provides due process requirements for those who may be issued a letter of intent to revoke or deny and a statement of reasons. Below are the provisions each

Read More
Security Clearance Jobs

Congressional lawmakers have been busy this year trying to push through several new changes to security clearance oversight and processes.  As is usual in Washington politics, a number of proposals were generated to create the appearance that actual reform was the main goal.  A recent article posted by Defenseone.com discussed

Read More
Obtaining Security Clearance

In another recent Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) case the board decided that the concerns about the applicant’s recreational illegal drug use over a ten-year period that spanned from 2001 to 2011 were mitigated.  The applicant disclosed information detailing his recreational drug use from 2001 to 2011 that

Read More
Security Clearance Process

A year after the Washington Navy Yard shootings security clearance process reform is moving forward, albeit slowly and methodically. A recent Washington Post article highlighted the progress already made in certain areas, but also came to the conclusion that there is still quite a bit of work to be done

Read More