PSH-18-0088 - In the Matter of Personnel Security Hearing

On February 26, 2019, an OHA Administrative Judge (AJ) issued a decision in which he determined that an Individual’s DOE access authorization should be not be restored.

The Individual had been diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Severe, and Alcohol-Induced Depressive Disorder. The Individual recognized that he had a serious alcohol problem and had successfully completed an inpatient treatment program, become active in Alcoholics Anonymous, and engaged in individual counseling. The Individual was able to maintain his sobriety for approximately nine months, but then suffered three relapses, the last of which occurred one month prior to his hearing. Because of these relapses, the Individual’s AUD was no longer in remission at the time of the hearing, and therefore the security concerns raised under Guidelines G and I were not mitigated. Accordingly, the AJ found that the Individual's access authorization should be not be restored, despite the Individual’s laudable candor during the administrative review process and his diligent efforts to address his AUD. OHA Case No. PSH-18-0088 (Steven L. Fine).