Expert: Jason Grabill - 9/5/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I don't know where to go for this.  I am not military so bear with me please.  I have friend who is a Retired fighter pilot now working at EAFB -- on a project which is not complete yet..."jsf"...He has a security clearance.  Okay. He clearly has been exhibiting a strange downward spiral, including garnering debt after debt, even tiny, and they all go to collections...not untypical of other things in his life, he just won't handle, apathetic.  Now his house is in foreclosure.  Trying to keep mental health focus out of this question....so -- I'm told he can or will lose his security clearance lickety-split if the house is not saved during default and proceeds to auction.  I'm very worried for him and am trying to make communication but need to be well-informed of policy.  Time is of the essence naturally.  Can you help me please or point me in the direction to research the answer?  Thank you.

ANSWER: Athena:

  I"m not an expert on security clearances, other than having held one in the past, but I'll do the best I can with this.  As far as I know, someone can in fact lose their clearance for unpaid debts, or be denied a clearance.  They can also have the clearance revoked for mental health issues.   It will be up to his security manager to make those decisions, but they will give him a chance to fix the issues first.  If he doesn't, they will pull the clearance.  I would say the vast majority of issues here are up to this person, if he wants to try and get things together or not.  I'm sorry I'm not of more help for you here.  You might try researching "Security clearance regulations" using a search engine, with words to that effect, that might give you a publication you can reference.  The Dept of Navy pub for this is OPNAVINST 5510 if I remember right.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again.  Thank you Jason. Yes, I've been searching the internet and find all kinds of related answers -- however, they are in respect to "recruits" and for those applying and in the middle of security clearances, I'm afraid.  I will continue though to search.      ....  Follow-up: Do you happen to know if "they" are privvy (however that occurs) in a -- real-time basis? That is, as problems (i.e. N(otices) O(f) D(efault); collections; health issues) occur?  I'm sorry but am clueless as to how the government works in these maters? Or, does it only become known when "periodic reviews" are made...such as those I've read about...in 5, 10 or so years depending upon the level of security they have?    While I am trying to arm myself with knowledge, I am also hoping to find hard, black and white, printable matter as evidence of truth that I can present my friend with -- in hand -- and encourage him while there's still a chance to correct, as in the matter of the house (before it is ultimately lost and forever becomes part of his history).  If they are made aware in real-time, then there's some hope that the fear of losing his credentials will somehow motivate him back on track?     If it is only left to periodic reviews (I have no idea when his next would be), then I'll opt to save my sanity and stop racing against the clock on his behalf.  I'd hate to see him lose a job he so connects with as he'd be devastated.  But if I'm spinning my wheels with a strategy that has no basis, I guess I just have to let the chips fall where they may.   Thanks again.  (I tried to be concise, really!  :) )
ANSWER: Athena:

 LOL.  It was concise, no worries.  Usually these things are discovered during periodic reviews, UNLESS someone were to institute a "Special Security Investigation".  This could be done by anyone that he works for, or the federal gov't itself, based on information rec'vd.  If the finance company, for example, called his work and told his supervisor he was in default, that could trigger a review.  Criminal proceedings will always trigger a review.  In reality, it's a roll of the dice, but the majority of the time, these things are discovered during the periodic reviews that are done.   It's not a 'yes or no' answer I'm afraid, but there are no concrete 'yes/no' answers here.   I'd say to stop worrying at this point, tho. There is likely little you can do unless you believe that losing his creds or the threat of it, will help himself out of his predicament.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Uh, hi again Jason.  It's me, third time around.  

Yes, that is precisely it.  My thinking was that at this point, motivation is only to be found under the threat of losing his credentials.  So I was hoping to prove to him it is indeed a threat -- you know present him with hard, fast evidence as in the way of Paragraph X, Article X in some official regulations manual.  But I think, in his current condition, if he didn't have to worry about losing his job for another ten years (or at the time of review way down the road), then he'll remain apathetic and avoidant.  Ayway, guess that wasn't really another follow-up question, just further venting. Lol. (I almost feel like we should do lunch.)  Thanks J.

Answer
Athena:

 LOL.  No problem and no worries.  You could certainly tell him that if someone calls his work and drops a dime, he'll be out of luck.  When that happens, the clearance is almost always suspended immediately "pending review", and it can stay that way for, literally, years.   So the threat is real.

 Lunch is on you :)

Jason