ÿWPC§ RG_76óc¬Ÿk4 Ê‹ÅÍÞ_ÿoëç Bà͵Íñj&Cl¹G·°X\±ok=ó6/.R<™í{ÝÉkbØöö"‹á¤q5c2R¹æM ]k¦mŸFîõ*éï>!‹`CÕ+‰‚¤:œ ¡a©§õ¨Œ[Î=cá¥.†Ÿ !LÏm„å½äº 'äC ¯ £å¿` c¹8–À ‡œ_ŒÊ™¯î#6rÆä·AV™ Àï0Hëu€d&L­fðçt%b"L¦55màaó4ž°mû¸œT_´´©Ê^/ƒåü,íCröòl˜üïÐüzÛæñ8Æ™sÇv!1t²¿ï%wõS b=_©Eo•¥ú âá òtσ@­­ŸˆÈ¹ºé½A!¢Ï‡þ ù¸Ã¼<;×éZØdØï÷©¯1Ž)É6ï ÷¦¹a¸ø»ï}tW2$ì `^ë÷ÀbxÜ'½‘†ñ&¤Ï´‘à\(Yü€L-9År†HS†imü(©CôŠšwD·²r\˜Aæ¯ú¶eþç¡×%ô:Ì"'þû3d½SNI~Ó0Gÿä"-nVš¡ÿ£HÞVšeGý0¢ŠhóÁjœ Z#ÉìU Nµ % 0: àZC ^ w© 4­ Á Ð mÒ 0©é àZ’ ’ ’ Eì ¼î 0Dª ª Nî žð ð ð üŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽŽ BŠ˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUEènJ„JpJ(ntFold3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ(Y(2ͨ$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ôòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE ²Ý ƒ ͨ$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ô ÌòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔDirective,€Enclosure€2€ðð€16(d).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó  ”Ý ƒ ͨ$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ô ÌòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔWe€also€note,€as€stated€above,€that€the€Judge€cited€to€the€Guideline€Ô_ÔññFññññEññÔ_Ô€statement€of€concern:€€ð ðConduct€involvingÐ ° Ðquestionable€judgment€.€.€.€or€unwillingness€to€comply€with€rules€and€regulations€can€raise€questions€about€an€individualððsÐ tÄ Ðreliability,€trustworthiness€and€ability€to€protect€classified€information.ðð€€This€language€captures€Applicantððs€misconductÐ 8ˆ Ðin€hazing€a€military€member.€€ òÝ ƒ ͨ$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ô ÌòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡XúXXòô ÌÔ€Ô#†ô ÌòXXúX#ÔDirective,€Enclosure€2€ðð€15€ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ ÔKEYWORD:€€Guideline€EÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€€The€disqualifying€conditions€listed€under€each€guideline€are€illustrative€only,€notÐ ˆØ Ðexhaustive€and€exclusive.€€They€provide€an€analytical€framework€for€decision„making€but€are€notÐ tÄ Ðto€be€applied€in€the€strict€manner€required€of€criminal€statutes.€€Indeed,€it€is€not€anomalous€for€aÐ `° ÐJudge€to€conclude€that€none€of€the€listed€disqualifying€conditions€strictly€apply€yet€neverthelessÐ L œ Ðconclude€that€an€applicantððs€conduct€raises€concerns€under€the€guideline€at€issue.€€A€Judge€mustÐ 8 ˆ Ðbring€common€sense€to€his€decision€making€and€must€place€national€security€over€otherÐ $ t Ðcompeting€considerations.€€Adverse€decision€affirmed.Ð  ` ÐÌCASE€NO:€€14„03701.a1Ð è 8  ÐÌDATE:€€04/12/2017Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€€April€12,€2017Ð ˜è  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€Y) °°xdE°GgAßÐ H˜ ÐÌIn€Re:Ð C“ ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  àÌÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ ß/ ÐÌßA€Y) °°xdE°¶gAßÐ · Ð)Ð H˜ Ð)Ð 4„ Ð)Ð  p Ð)Ð  \ Ð)Ð øH Ð)Ð ä4  Ð)Ð Ð ! Ð)Ð ¼ " ÐÐ ¨ø# ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àISCR€Case€No.€14„03701Ð  \& ÐÐ øH' ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓÐ €Ð' Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ l¼( ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ 0"€+ Ðó óÌÔ‡&æ»%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ $X- ÐJames€B.€Norman,€Esq.,€Chief€Department€CounselÐ à$0 . ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ &à!0 ÐJames€D.€DelSordo,€Esq.Ô#†XúXX%&滓#ÔÐ h'¸"1 ÐÌÌÓ  Óà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€On€AprilÐ *h%4 Ð6,€2015,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(SOR)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ +T&5 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€E€(Personal€Conduct)€of€Department€of€DefenseÐ ð+@'6 ÐDirective€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€€Applicant€requested€a€hearing.€€On€JanuaryÐ Ü,,(7 Ð26,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€(DOHA)€Administrative€Ô_ ÔJudgeÐ È-)8 ÐJuan€J.€Rivera€denied€Applicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€toÐ ° ÐDirective€ðððð€E3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð œì ÐÌà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€the€Judge€erred€in€concluding€thatÐ tÄ Ðhis€conduct€raised€Guideline€E€security€concerns€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€adverse€decision€wasÐ `° Ðarbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€Consistent€with€the€following,€we€affirm.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Factó óÐ $ t ÐÌà  àApplicant€works€for€a€Defense€contractor.€€He€served€in€the€U.S.€military€from€1997€untilÐ ü L  Ð2012,€rising€to€the€grade€of€E„6.€€In€2011,€Applicant€participated€in€a€hazing€incident€with€five€otherÐ è 8  Ðmembers,€in€which€the€victim€was€stripped€naked,€restrained,€photographed,€and€assaulted,€includingÐ Ô$  Ðan€indecent€assault€in€which€one€of€the€assailants€placed€his€genitals€on€the€victimððs€forehead.€€AtÐ À  Ðthe€time€of€the€incident,€Applicant€was€31€years€old€and€had€been€in€the€military€for€13€years.€€HeÐ ¬ü  Ðhad€received€yearly€training€on€the€militaryððs€policies€forbidding€hazing,€sexual€harassment,€sexualÐ ˜è  Ðmisconduct,€and€the€misuse€of€alcohol.€€Applicant€knew€that€hazing€was€illegal.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àAs€a€consequence€of€his€misconduct,€Applicant€was€brought€to€a€summary€court„martial,Ð \¬ Ðwhere€he€pled€guilty€to€violating€a€general€order€(hazing),€indecent€acts,€and€assault€consummatedÐ H˜ Ðby€a€battery.€€After€his€conviction,€the€military€administratively€discharged€Applicant€under€OtherÐ 4„ ÐThan€Honorable€Conditions.€€Between€the€time€of€the€incident€and€his€discharge€in€2012,€ApplicantÐ  p Ðcontinued€to€perform€his€duties.€€The€military€did€not€revoke€his€security€clearance.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àApplicant€had€no€other€infractions€or€problems€with€the€law€after€this€incident.€€His€currentÐ ä4 Ðsupervisor€commended€his€duty€performance€and€characterized€him€as€reliable€and€trustworthy.€€HisÐ Ð  Ðcommanding€officer€at€the€time€of€his€misconduct,€who€is€now€an€0„6,€stated€that€Applicant€was€anÐ ¼  Ðoutstanding€military€member.€€He€considers€Applicant€to€be€trustworthy€and€able€properly€to€handleÐ ¨ø Ðclassified€information.€€He€stated€that€Applicant€has€paid€for€his€mistake.Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ l¼ ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€concluded€that€Applicantððs€misconduct€satisfies€the€statement€of€concern€underÐ D!” ÐGuideline€Ô_ ÔEÔ_ Ô׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€disqualifying€condition€16(d).׃|×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€evaluating€Applicantððs€case€for€mitigation,€theÐ 0"€  ÐJudge€noted€his€age€and€rank€at€the€time€of€the€offense€as€well€as€the€circumstances€underlying€it.€Ð #l! ÐHe€cited€to€evidence€that€Applicant€engaged€in€his€misconduct€despite€regular€training€regarding€theÐ $X" Ðmilitaryððs€ban€on€hazing.€€He€also€noted€that€at€the€time€of€the€incident€Applicant€was€in€a€positionÐ ô$D # Ðof€leadership,€responsible€for€the€care€of€those€serving€under€him€and€for€the€enforcement€of€rulesÐ à%0!$ Ðand€regulations.€€Though€acknowledging€the€positive€evidence€that€Applicant€submitted,€the€JudgeÐ Ì&"% Ðconcluded€that€abuse€of€a€fellow€military€member€that€occurred€over€a€60€to€90€minute€period€andÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€constituted€serious€criminal€misconduct€precluded€a€favorable€decision.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÐ )à$( ÐÔ_ Ôà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ ° ÐÌà  àApplicant€challenges€the€Judgeððs€application€of€disqualifying€condition€16(d).€€€He€contendsÐ ˆØ Ðthat€none€of€the€criteria€set€forth€in€this€subparagraph€have€been€satisfied.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àWe€note€first€of€all€that€the€Directive€presumes€a€nexus€between€admitted€or€proved€conductÐ L œ Ðunder€any€of€the€guidelines€and€an€applicantððs€eligibility€for€a€clearance.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.Ð 8 ˆ Ð15„02903€at€2€(App.€Bd.€Mar.€9,€2017).€€In€this€case,€Applicant€admitted€each€allegation€set€forth€inÐ $ t Ðthe€SOR,€thereby€giving€rise€to€this€presumption.€€Moreover,€the€disqualifying€conditions€listedÐ  ` Ðunder€each€guideline€are€illustrative€only,€not€exhaustive€and€exclusive.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€€ISCR€Case€No.Ð ü L  Ð12„01698€at€4€(App.€Bd.€Jun.€13,€2014).€€They€provide€an€analytical€framework€for€decision„makingÐ è 8  Ðbut€are€not€to€be€applied€in€the€strict€manner€required€of€criminal€statutes.€€Indeed,€it€is€notÐ Ô$  Ðanomalous€for€a€Judge€to€conclude€that€none€of€the€listed€disqualifying€conditions€strictly€apply€yetÐ À  Ðnevertheless€conclude€that€an€applicantððs€conduct€raises€concerns€under€the€guideline€at€issue.€€AÐ ¬ü  ÐJudge€must€bring€common€sense€to€his€decision€making€and€must€place€national€security€over€otherÐ ˜è  Ðcompeting€considerations.€€òòIdóó.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àDisqualifying€condition€16(d)€provides€as€follows:Ð \¬ ÐÌà8  à[C]redible€adverse€information€that€is€not€explicitly€covered€under€any€otherÐ 4„ Ðguideline€and€may€not€be€sufficient€by€itself€for€an€adverse€determination,€but€which,Ð  p Ðwhen€combined€with€all€available€information€supports€a€whole„person€assessmentÐ  \ Ðof€questionable€judgment,€untrustworthiness,€unreliability,€lack€of€candor,Ð øH Ðunwillingness€to€comply€with€rules€and€regulations,€or€other€characteristics€indicatingÐ ä4 Ðthat€the€person€may€not€properly€safeguard€protected€information.€€This€includes€butÐ Ð  Ðis€not€limited€to€consideration€of€.€.€.€disruptive,€violent,€or€other€inappropriateÐ ¼  Ðbehavior€in€the€workplace[.]à h à€Ð¨øÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àApplicant€argues€that€this€condition€does€not€apply€because,€among€other€things,€he€was€notÐ €Ð Ðon€duty€at€the€time€of€the€offense,€as€a€consequence€of€which€his€acts€did€not€occur€in€the€workplace.€Ð l¼ ÐHowever,€Applicant€was€a€member€of€the€U.S.€military€in€an€area€subject€to€military€command€andÐ X ¨ Ðcontrol.€€Applicant€and€his€fellow€service€members€could€have€been€required€to€perform€militaryÐ D!” Ðoperations€at€a€momentððs€notice,€and€distinctions€between€on„duty€and€off„duty€conduct€have€littleÐ 0"€  Ðpurchase€under€the€kind€of€circumstances€that€routinely€confront€members€of€the€armed€forces.€Ð #l! ÐMoreover,€Applicant€was€expected€to€enforce€standards€irrespective€of€duty€status,€a€requirementÐ $X" Ðof€which€he€was€aware,€and€failed€to€do€so.€€The€seriousness€of€his€infraction€can€be€gauged€by€hisÐ ô$D # Ðreceipt€of€an€Other€than€Honorable€Conditions€discharge.€€Given€the€totality€of€the€evidence,€we€findÐ à%0!$ Ðno€reason€to€disturb€the€Judgeððs€conclusion€that€Applicantððs€violent€conduct€raised€serious€questionsÐ Ì&"% Ðabout€his€willingness€to€comply€with€rules€and€regulations.€€In€particular,€we€find€no€reason€toÐ ¸'#& Ðdisturb€the€Judgeððs€conclusion€that€16(d)€provides€a€suitable€framework€for€addressing€the€essentialÐ ¤(ô#' Ðâ ânature€of€Applicantððs€security„significant€conduct.€€We€resolve€this€assignment€of€error€Ô_ ÔadverselyÐ )à$( Ðto€Applicant.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ° Ðâ âÌà  àIn€challenging€the€Judgeððs€mitigation€analysis,€Applicant€cites€to€his€otherwise€cleanÐ ˆØ Ðdisciplinary€record€and€to€the€favorable€opinions€of€his€supervisor€and€his€former€commander.€€TheÐ tÄ ÐJudge€made€findings€about€these€matters.€€However,€given€the€seriousness€of€his€misconduct,Ð `° ÐApplicant€has€not€demonstrated€that€the€Judge€weighed€the€record€evidence€in€a€manner€that€wasÐ L œ Ðarbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€òò€See,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ ÔISCRÔ_ Ô€Case€No.€15„08842€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Feb.€14,Ð 8 ˆ Ð2017).Ð $ t Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àThe€Judge€examined€the€relevant€evidence€and€articulated€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€theÐ ü L  Ðdecision,€both€as€to€the€disqualifying€conditions€and€the€mitigating€conditions.€€The€decision€isÐ è 8  Ðsustainable€on€this€record.€€ð ðThe€general€standard€is€that€a€clearance€may€be€granted€only€whenÐ Ô$  Ðððclearly€consistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€€òòDepartment€of€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484Ð À  ÐU.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubt€concerning€personnelÐ ¬ü  Ðbeing€considered€for€access€to€classified€information€will€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€nationalÐ ˜è  Ðsecurity.ððÐ „Ô  ÐÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ \¬ ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Ô_ ÔRaððananÔ_ Ô€€€€€€€óóÐ è8 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Ô_ ÔRaððananÔ_ ÔÐ Ô$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ À Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ ¬ü ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€óóÐ \ ¬ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ H!˜ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ 4"„  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ  #p! ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€William€S.€Fields€€€€€€€óóÐ Ð& "% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àWilliam€S.€FieldsÐ ¼' #& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ¨(ø#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ ° ÐÌ