PSH-24-0061 - In the Matter of Personnel Security Hearing

On June 13, 2024, an Administrative Judge determined that an Individual should be granted access authorization under 10 C.F.R. Part 710. The Individual submitted a Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP), disclosing that he voluntarily sought counseling or treatment resulting from his alcohol use in 2019 and had been actively receiving counseling and treatment since 2020. The Individual was subsequently evaluated by a DOE-contracted psychiatrist (DOE Psychiatrist) who determined that the Individual met sufficient diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe, in early remission, under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition. At the hearing, the Individual testified that he had been abstinent for over a year, had an active support network, and was working dedicatedly with a clinical pharmacist at a Veterans Affairs facility. She submitted a letter on his behalf attesting to his abstinence and voicing her disagreement with several of the DOE Psychiatrist's recommendations for rehabilitation or reformation. Although the Individual had not complied with all the DOE Psychiatrist's recommendations, the DOE Psychiatrist concluded that the Individual's prognosis was good. After considering all the evidence presented, the Administrative Judge concluded that the Individual had resolved the Guideline G concerns and should be granted access authorization. (OHA Case No. PSH-24-0061, Quintana)