WANT A SECURITY CLEARANCE?
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Michael J. Belzil, Security Director
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Palmdale, California
Agenda
• Our Goal: Demystify the Mystical!• Basics, Career Paths, Value• Certification Process• Pitfalls & How to Avoid Mistakes• Case Studies• BLUF: In most cases, “they” really don’t
care what you’ve done, as long as you tell them!
Security Clearance Basics
• What is a Security Clearance?– Approval by the US government view
classified information
• Career Paths– Govt, Military, Defense/Bio/Tech Industry, etc.
• Value – WIFM?– A security clearance can increase your salary
$5,000 to $15,000
More Basics
• What are the security clearance levels?– Confidential– Secret– Top Secret
• How long is it good for?– As long as needed; subject to periodic review– Reinvestigations: currently 15, 10 or 5 years
for Confidential, Secret or Top Secret
Certification Process
• Sponsored by U.S. government or your company
• Native born or naturalized US citizen• Application -> investigation -> approval• Processing time varies
• 1-3 months for a CONFIDENTIAL clearance • 1-3 months for SECRET clearance• 4-8 months for a TOP SECRET clearance
More Process
• 3 steps to getting a security clearance– Apply via SF-86, verify citizenship, fingerprints
• Answer questions truthfully and completely• Re-do delays processing
– Background investigation• Interviews with you and your references
– Review (adjudication) and approval
Pitfalls to Retention• Professional
– Allegiance to the United States (Disloyalty)– Misuse of Information Technology– Mishandling Protected Information– Outside Activities– Foreign Influence – Foreign Preference
More Pitfalls• Personal
– Change in Personal Status– Alcohol Consumption– Criminal Conduct– Drug Involvement– Financial Considerations– Conduct, Behavior, Disorders– Judgment, Social Networking
Questions?
Seminar Title
Case Study #1
• Topic: Financial, Personal Conduct– 15 debts totaling $82,000– All debts settled or successfully disputed– Sought credit counseling service and
established a viable budget– Hired attorney to resolve a difficult debt
• Should we grant or deny clearance?
Case Study #2• Topic: Financial, Personal, Criminal
Conduct– 27-year-old employee of defense contractor– History of criminal actions, traffic infractions,
irresponsible financial decisions. – Appears to be headed in the right direction,
but has not yet established a track record of responsible behavior
• Should we grant or deny clearance?
Case Study #3
• Topic: Foreign Influence, Personal Conduct– Applicant born and educated in Morocco– Came to the US in 1999 and became a U.S. citizen in 2007– In 2004, bought apartment for $34,000 in Morocco for his mother– Married a Moroccan n 2004, she intends to become a US citizen– Mother, 4 brothers, father-in-law, mother-in-law are citizens and
residents of Morocco – Retained Moroccan passport after becoming a U.S. citizen; destroyed
it when he learned it raised security concerns – On security clearance application, failed to disclose 2 civil actions and
some of his foreign travel, because he did not understand the questions; answered truthfully during interview
• Should we grant or deny clearance?
Case Study #4
• Topic: Financial and Personal Conduct– 7 delinquent debts totaling $170,399– Resolved 3 debts; 4 debts are unresolved– Falsified security clearance application, failing
to disclose: delinquent debts, referral to collection agencies and suspended credit cards for nonpayment
• Should we grant or deny clearance?
Security Clearance Recap
• Security clearance validates trust to protect classified information
• Suitable for govt, defense, high tech, jobs• Certification after thorough investigation• Must maintain standards of conduct• Can be lost due to failure to self-report
WANT A SECURITY CLEARANCE?
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Michael J. Belzil, Security Director
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Palmdale, California
