Does anyone here know anything about security clearances?

[Sanity Claws]

I'm writing a story that includes a Boeing engineer who loses his security clearance and suddenly finds himself unemployed and unemployable in 2005 America.
The question is how to get him to do something inadvertently that causes him to lose his clearance. The scenario I'm leaning toward is to have him sign a FOIA request regarding 9/11; when the DoD declines to produce the documents, the group sues the DoD under FOIA for the documents. DoD revokes his security clearance because he is part of the group that sues the DoD for information.

Plausible?
Other suggestions as to how one could inadvertently lose one's security clearance would be appreciated.

[lapfog_1]

1. The most common way people lose their security clearance

is to lie about something. Either on one of the numerous forms to be filled out during the application or to an investigator in one of the many interviews conducted. The most common lie is about drug use or financials.

After you get a security clearance, failing a drug test is the most common way to lose it.

Filing a lawsuit against the DoD might get your tags yanked, but the circumstance would dictate that.

[Sanity Claws]

6. Thanks for the response

Do you know where or how I could learn more about DoD yanking clearances for filing suit against it?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. So far as I know, if he may well have already lost it.

When is a clearance terminated?
A clearance is terminated when a person permanently leaves a position for which the clearance was
granted. Cleared individuals who no longer require access to classified information, but who remain
continuously employed by the same cleared contractor and do not anticipate future access can have their
clearances administratively downgraded or withdrawn until such time that they require access again,
provided their security investigation has not expired. Under such circumstances the clearance can be
administratively restored.

http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf

[Sanity Claws]

4. Maybe my posting wasn't clear

I'm thinking his security clearance is revoked because he is part of a group which sues DoD on a FOIA request. I understand that security clearances are revoked automatically if the person sues DoD.
As a result of losing his security clearance, Boeing fires the guy.

He tries to get rehired elsewhere but no government contractor will touch him because of the revoked security clearance. He finds that all other manufacturers have been so downsized that no one has use for him.

That's the scenario I'm thinking of.

How plausible is that to someone who knows anything about security clearances?

[sailor65]

3. A plausible example if it helps

If a Boeing Engineer were to escort persons into secured areas without checking eligibility to enter (Any "Non-US" person would be categorically prohibited), he or she would likely lose clearance. This could happen if the Boeing engineer was walking with an H-1 engineer or some foreign exchange co-op, neither of which would be permitted in these areas, and would fit your "Inadvertently" scenario.

[Sanity Claws]

5. I'll keep this in mind

My aim in this fiction piece is to tie in several common threads running through American life in the late 90s and the current century.
That's why I was referring to 9/11.
However, I can see how I can use your scenario and H-1 employees to highlight the outsourcing of American workers to foreigners willing to work for less.

[sailor65]

13. Great Idea!

The reason I had this example for you is we're doing DoD work for Boeing and we're thick with H-1's that have displaced American engineers at lower pay rates. None of them are allowed into our secured areas or on our secured networks. We've got very good engineers out on unemployment because of the H-1's.

[zipplewrath]

7. DUI

Just have him get a DUI. You can also lose it for things like having a domestic violence injunction. He could marry badly, with really bad debts. It's pretty easy to lose a clearance actually. Anything that could be used to blackmail you. A marital affair can lose you your clearance.

[Sanity Claws]

9. Thanks

I want this guy to be squeaky clean, the kind who was always too busy doing everything he was supposed to do that he lost sight of the world and other people.
I already have an idea of the family life and the dynamics I want played out so DV and marital issues won't do.
DUI? Maybe -- if he's under the influence of prescribed meds. This could tie into another theme I'd like to weave into the story.
Thanks for the idea.

[votingupstart]

14. the most likely reasons for people to lose their clearances

is lying about another issue. even having a DUI is in itself not enough unless there are extenuating / aggravating circumstances. if the person is honest about it and is in some sort of treatment program the guy will probably not lose his clearance. Even if the person suffers form a mental condition if the medical Dr. treating them say to the investigator that the person is not a danger to national security then the person can continue to work.

the case of a clearance being yanked for filing a lawsuit is a little of a stretch, as this opens the government to possible civil action (breach of contract - discrimination - whistle blower act etc.) the case of the major who was fired will probably come back to haunt the investigating agency who pressured his company as now the agency exceeded the investigation mission and went into the punishment mission (reserved for the courts)

a possible scenario is that if you have contact with foreign nationals you are supposed to report it through your companies SSO. in the military is is called the "S-2". a scenario is that an old friend from a previous job who was a foreign national (mister X) contacted a person with a top secret clearance who was working for a major defense contractor (mister Y) over face book. the back story is that at a previous employment (approx 13 - 15 years ago) X and Y had worked together as young engineers and X had been actively pursuing his US citizenship. Mr. Y left the employment to join the major defense contractor that he currently worked for. after no contact for almost 15 years X sends Y a message on face book asking if he was the same person and if they had worked together previously. after 6 months of back and forth emailing and a phone call or two, Y's periodic review is due (Periodic reviews are done evey 7 years for Top Secret clearances) During the interview where all his information was reviewed Y forgot to mention that he had been talking to X. when the investigator questioned his coworkers (as it is standard practice to interview the subjects coworkers) a Friend mentioned that Y had recently made contact with an old friend who was a Pakistani engineer. the coworker mentions X's name as he remembered it from a funny story that Y had told once. As this is an issue and the Y had not disclosed this information, further investigation is required including running X's name through NCIC and other databases. it turns out that the name which is common in Pakistan is also the #4 man is a Al-Queda affiliated terrorist organization in Waziristan (Pakistan's Tribal region). a reinvestigation is ordered into the issue and upon being questioned Y realizes his clearance is in jeopardy and asks for a lawyer. at that moment the investigator places a call to the OPM (office of personnel management - central HR for the government)who then calls the FBI. As is standard protocol Y's clearance is yanked until the outcome of the investigation can be determined.
The major defense contractor is in negotiation to sell a new type of satellite fleet which will be billions of dollars and years of work and gets freaked out that the investigation could be a black eye just before the contract is about to be signed. the defense contractor fires Y for "lying" during his reinvestigation. no job = no need for a clearance, and so the clearance investigation is suspended until the investigation into possible terrorism ties is completed and since FBI guy is going to fly to islamabad and try to find X the resolution wont be any time soon.

just a thought

[DBoon]

8. A civil rights activist in the '50s almost got his revoked

for his political activities. Fairly prominent African-American military guy. Can't recall his name.

I believe that in the 60's participation in anti-war activities could cost a clearance.

Some Google use should call up instances of the above.

I've heard the most common way to lose a clearance nowadays is a DUI. An extra-marital liaison with a foreign national would probably do as well.

Losing a clearance for a career military contractor would be a career-ending move, for sure.

[Sanity Claws]

12. Thanks for the idea

If you think of that guy's name, please let me know.

[ngant17]

10. Sounds like the story of Maj. Cook recently

The Department of Defense compelled a private employer to fire a U.S. Army Reserve major from his civilian job after he had his military deployment orders revoked for arguing he should not be required to serve under a president who has not proven his eligibility for office.

According to the CEO of Simtech Inc., a private company contracted by the Defense Security Services, an agency of the Department of Defense, the federal government compelled the termination of Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook.

Defense Security Services compelled Simtech to fire Cook.

[Sanity Claws]

11. There's where I got my idea!

Good catch.
However, I wanted my character not to be an asshole like that guy. ;)

[bjchap]

17. CLEARANCE PROBLEM

there is a young man, ex-USAF, now civilian contractor at NGA. deployed to Iraq 120 days. Finished term. The man he reported to left 2 weeks prior to his departure. new major comes in...new somebody else. New major did not want him to leave until 24 hours before his flight out of Katar...which means if he didn't leave in time, he would miss his flight out of Katar home and would be stuck for another 6-7 days maybe because of the holidays. The company had alrady paid for his flight home 2 months prior. He tried to go thru the chain and get his travel arrangements; it was imperative for him to return home because his wife had multiple medical issues. He made his own arrangements. His replacement in Iraq was already in place. Now the new major is upset with him and now initiated motion to have his clearance yanked. He has been an exemplimentary employee; his work was complimented while in Iraq. No negative reports. But now facing this problem. Is this grounds for revoking his clearance just because the major doesn't like....or will they look at the facts? They sent all the way to the Admiral at the NGA.

[billyclem]

15. The higher the clearance, the easier it is to lose.

Since you want the character to be clean have him carry some flavor of Top Secret and inadvertently overdose on prescription meds for a DUI. Or you could have a friend of one of his kids leave some drugs in his car. I had a TS for most of my working life and these 2 are actual examples of situations where people lost their clearance. This was not in association with Boeing but with what the government calls 'special nuclear material', perhaps the trigger point might be lower.

[bjchap]

16. QUESTION ABOUT REVOKING CLEARANCE

there is a young man, ex-USAF, now civilian contractor at NGA. deployed to Iraq 120 days. Finished term. The man he reported to left 2 weeks prior to his departure. new major comes in...new somebody else. New major did not want him to leave until 24 hours before his flight out of Katar...which means if he didn't leave in time, he would miss his flight out of Katar home and would be stuck for another 6-7 days maybe because of the holidays. The company had alrady paid for his flight home 2 months prior. He tried to go thru the chain and get his travel arrangements; it was imperative for him to return home because his wife had multiple medical issues. He made his own arrangements. His replacement in Iraq was already in place. Now the new major is upset with him and now initiated motion to have his clearance yanked. He has been an exemplimentary employee; his work was complimented while in Iraq. No negative reports. But now facing this problem. Is this grounds for revoking his clearance just because the major doesn't like....or will they look at the facts? They sent all the way to the Admiral at the NGA.

[jmowreader]

18. Your scenario is "retribution," and IIRC you CAN'T lose your clearance for that

DWI at least USED to be a case-by-case thing.

Try this, and I think you'll like it: Credit problems are one of the quicker ways to lose your clearance, so put your hero into an Option ARM and have him get foreclosed upon when the mortgage adjusts.