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What’s the Big Deal About a Security Clearance?

What’s the Big Deal About a Security Clearance?. School of Science and Technology Freshman Day 17 Aug 12. What’s a c learance about?. Where do you start?. Roadmap for this talk …. Who? Why? How? Gotchyas ! FAQ. Who needs/gets a clearance?.

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What’s the Big Deal About a Security Clearance?

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  1. What’s the Big Deal About a Security Clearance? School of Science and Technology Freshman Day 17 Aug 12

  2. What’s a clearance about?

  3. Where do you start?

  4. Roadmap for this talk … • Who? • Why? • How? • Gotchyas! • FAQ

  5. Who needs/gets a clearance? • ONLY the federal government can grant you one • Basic concept: “Only people you trust can truly betray you!” • #1 rule for obtaining a security clearance: • You have to have a NEED for one. • You have to hold a position requiring ACCESS to sensitive (or classified or restricted) information. • You cannot get one for yourself - need to be “sponsored”

  6. Who needs/gets a clearance? • Three categories, in general (supposedly simplified) • Confidential (not really anymore) • Secret • Top Secret • Lots of tech jobs in north central WV require clearances (and non-tech ones too) – WHY? • Interim clearances have become more common, so a new hire can start performing their job right away.

  7. Why bother? • Once you have a security clearance, it is “like gold” • New positions will want to hire you since they don’t have to go through the costly and lengthy process • Most are pretty well-paying positions • Pretty solid job security with a government agency • Great union • Transfer within (www.usajobs.gov) • Most are vital to national security • Biggie for me: Some are pretty darn cool jobs!

  8. How? What’s the process? • Fill out “a form” (SF-86) with “OMG data” going back 7-10 years, depending on clearance level and which organization is sponsoring you • Addresses, phone numbers, family members, etc. • “References” • But, when they talk to your references, they will get asked if they know who your friends were, who you hung out with, etc … • Then they go to THEM … especially if you didn’t put them on your form – WHY? (Note: ex-girl/boyfriends) • ANOTHER NOTE: very intrusive!

  9. How? What’s the process? (2) • Defense Security Service conducts background checks most of the time (or a contractor) • Goal for Secret: 2 months • Goal for Top Secret: 9 months • Adjudication – findings are evaluated based on a number of factors (about 13, depending on agency) • Criminal conduct • Personal conduct • Substance abuse • Mental disorders

  10. Gotchyas • Basic idea: Don’t be stupid! • Don’t lie on the forms! • It’s all about risk: what factors lead to someone becoming a “traitor”? • Money • Addictions/Blackmail • Past behavior • Ideology – set of ideas that constitute ones goals, expectations, and actions (wikipedia)

  11. Gotchyas (a few examples) • Money • Credit Score • Debt • FBI webpage: “A poor credit history, or other issues, will not necessarily disqualify a candidate from receiving a clearance, but resolution of the issues will likely take additional time. If the issues are significant, they may prevent a clearance from being approved.” • Addictions/Blackmail • Drug use • Sex • etc • Again, won’t disqualify, but needs to be “resolved”

  12. Gotchyas (more examples) • Past behavior • Criminal history • Inconsistencies from interviews are of “particular interest” and will cause them to “drill down” • Ideology • What are your professed beliefs? • Citizenship of family members? • Whom do you associate with? • Who is in your circle? (likely new one coming)

  13. Some References • http://govcentral.monster.com/security-clearance-jobs/articles/413-how-to-obtain-a-security-clearance • http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf/ • http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/law-enforcement/clearance

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