PSH-21-0004 - In the Matter of Personnel Security Hearing

On January 29, 2021, an Administrative Judge (AJ) determined that an Individual's access authorization should not  be  restored  under  10 C.F.R.  Part  710.  The  Individual  is  employed  by a DOE contractor in a position that requires a security clearance.  During  the  security  clearance reinvestigation process, the  Individual  admitted  derogatory  information  relating  to  his past alcohol consumption. After further investigation, a DOE contractor psychologist  diagnosed the Individual with Alcohol Abuse Disorder, Severe. Consequently, the  DOE  suspended the Individual's security clearance citing  Guideline  G  of  the  Adjudicative  Guidelines.

At the hearing, the Individual did not  dispute  the  DOE's  allegations  but  rather  provided  witness testimony to clarify and supplement the record. At the conclusion of the hearing, the  AJ found persuasive the opinion of the Psychologist  that  the  Individual  was  not  yet rehabilitated. The AJ further found that the Individual had not presented evidence that he had developed substantial skills to cope with the circumstances and stresses of life that triggered his concerning alcohol consumption in the past. Consequently, the AJ concluded that the  Individual had not mitigated the  Guideline  G  security  concerns.  Accordingly,  the  AJ  concluded that the Individual's access authorization should not be restored. OHA Case No. PSH-21-0004 (James P. Thompson III).