ÿWPC£ íG#ÃtZ|7%"³„O™ýà‡†¸ ÄM5ÇjKj;¤÷¬S}øÉ"håxÿ¿*'²GŸÛ‚ $!)y@ó†uÊ2ðÇãäéĹ P]²€ZØLb¹—êÐcºcÔøÈóﯧrÐéò•-~­%z.Xûû»«ŽÆD~:]y”jïÑéžÔ`o”z¹a“¯ß1‘ûÞŸà”g>CƆI<8±Ã“õ¢wl³ŽÞ¹úE@L+ígÓN±Mìþ¡>w|÷tQ?äÇ°gÿݼs°”^q“¤<Ï'GçðFÕu)òóF¬n†G1…gKDØ?YªxqÄqdÅuÌT‡ðž e÷•̬™ðS½Ç¶‡\lmK6h‚ 2.Ìgf-'i¢ ÊBŽµrb3ƒÊzòJ-:—Ðó3Ïé{ÙÌ‹uÎ2,7m¸ë—ºkàƒå5ú,Þìñ…G ])vö+q(|ò– ñnKŒÔxQzÆ‘OqŸq Ä‚ÇÌ|óMé¾bIº$£=µÐ¿®7–»êæOö½H#XCâꆠéfÜuq÷@´iâw±‡§Õ‹öM»mV¾PÊ‹“Ž¬6.™7!³ÌÙ£ÈxDOÏýéÕ "Æâd¿3¢4$(øŸílc÷[‰æÑ\UZ#ÉìUNµ % 0: àZC ^ w© 4­ Á Ð mÒ àZé é NC EE 0~G 0DÅ ( U1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 B†˜HP LaserJet 400 color M451dn UPD PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE£[…Jà„7Jê:i¢Ø+003|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE(.(3Ä($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôòXXÔ€Credit€reports€admitted€into€evidence€also€provide€substantial€evidence€of€the€delinquent€student€loans.€Ð ° ÐGovernment€Exhibits€3„5.€€€ KÝ ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôòXXÔ€After€Applicant€presented€her€closing€argument,€the€Judge€also€asked€Applicant€if€she€had€anything€else€toÐ ° Ðpresent,€and€Applicant€responded,€ð ðNo.€Thatððs€it.ðð€€Tr.€at€95. dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€€Guideline€FÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€€€Applicant€contends€the€Judge€did€not€provide€her€an€opportunity€to€testify€aboutÐ ˆØ Ðmitigating€conditions€and€other€factors.€€The€record€reflects€that€Applicant€had€ample€opportunityÐ tÄ Ðto€present€her€side€of€the€case.€€In€light€of€the€record€as€a€whole,€Applicant€has€not€met€herÐ `° Ðð ðheavy€burden€of€persuasionðð€to€establish€that€she€was€denied€due€process€rights€under€theÐ L œ ÐDirective.€€Adverse€decision€affirmed.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌCASE€NO:€€15„03798.a1Ð  ` ÐÌDATE:€€04/05/2017Ð è 8  ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€April€5,€2017Ð ¬ü  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€Y) °°xdE°[gAßÐ \¬ ÐÌIn€Re:Ð W§ ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  à€Ð k ÐÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ óC ÐÌßA€Y) °°xdE°ÊgAßÐ Ë Ð)Ð \¬ Ð)Ð H˜ Ð)Ð 4„ Ð)Ð  p Ð)Ð  \ Ð)Ð øH Ð)Ð ä4  Ð)Ð Ð ! ÐÐ ¼ " ÐÌÌÌà ç àÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€15„03798Ð  p% ÐÐ  \& ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÐ ”ä& Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ €Ð' ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ D!”* Ðó óÌÔ‡&ùû%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ #l, ÐJames€B.€Norman,€Esq.,€Chief€Department€CounselÐ ô#D- ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ ¤%ô / Ðòòò òPro€seó óóóÔ#†XïèX%&ùû–#ÔÐ |&Ì!0 ÐÌÌÓ  Óà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€OnÐ *)z$3 ÐNovember€10,€2015,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€forÐ *f%4 Ðthat€decisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€F€(Financial€Considerations)€of€DepartmentÐ +R&5 Ðof€Defense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€€Applicant€requested€a€hearing.€Ð î+>'6 ÐOn€January€13,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Administrative€Judge€Carol€G.€Ô_ÔRicciardelloÔ_Ô€deniedÐ Ú,*(7 ÐApplicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€€E3.1.28Ð Æ-)8 Ðand€E3.1.30.Ð ° ÐÌà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€the€Judge€erred€in€finding€theÐ ˆØ Ðevidence€raised€security€concerns;€whether€the€Judge€erred€in€limiting€Applicantððs€testimony;€Ð tÄ Ðwhether€the€Judge€erred€in€her€whole„person€analysis;€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€adverse€decision€wasÐ `° ÐÔ_Ôarbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€Consistent€with€the€following€discussion,€we€affirm€theÐ L œ ÐJudgeððs€decision.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Factó óÐ  ` ÐÌà  àò òó óApplicant€is€a€47„year„old€employee€of€a€Federal€contractor.€€She€attributed€her€financialÐ è 8  Ðproblems€to€underemployment.€€In€2010,€she€purchased€a€new€vehicle€and€has€one€more€paymentÐ Ô$  Ðto€satisfy€that€loan.€€She€estimated€that€she€has€about€$100€remaining€at€the€end€of€the€month€afterÐ À  Ðpaying€her€bills.€€She€has€about€$400€in€her€checking€and€savings€accounts.€€She€does€not€have€aÐ ¬ü  Ðbudget€and€has€not€received€financial€counseling.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€SOR€alleged€six€delinquent€debts.€€In€responding€to€the€SOR,€Applicant€admitted€fourÐ pÀ Ðdebts,€including€two€student€loans,€and€denied€the€remaining€two€debts.€€In€the€formal€findings,€theÐ \¬ ÐJudge€found€in€favor€of€Applicant€on€four€of€the€debts€and€against€her€on€the€two€student€loans.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àApplicant€obtained€Federal€and€private€student€loans€to€attend€college€from€1990€to€1993,Ð  p Ðbut€did€not€earn€a€degree.€€The€loans€were€deferred€for€an€unknown€period.€€Applicant€testified€thatÐ  \ Ðshe€did€not€make€any€payments€on€the€loans€from€1994€to€1996.€€The€loans€were€sold€to€otherÐ øH Ðlenders.€€She€testified€that€she€made€inconsistent€payments€until€about€2008€and€then€stopped€payingÐ ä4 Ðthem.€€It€is€unknown€when€or€if€she€restarted€the€payments.€€No€documentation€was€submittedÐ Ð  Ðverifying€the€periods€of€deferment€or€payments€made€during€these€periods.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àApplicant€testified€that€at€some€point€her€wages€were€garnished€for€about€four€or€five€yearsÐ ”ä Ðto€pay€her€student€loans.€€The€garnishment€stopped€and€restarted€when€the€loans€were€sold.€€She€alsoÐ €Ð Ðbelieved€that€she€had€about€$14,000€of€her€tax€refunds€withheld€over€the€years.€€She€told€anÐ l¼ Ðinvestigator€that€she€had€the€ability€to€pay€her€loans€and€would€follow€up€to€do€so,€but€then€testifiedÐ X ¨ Ðthat€she€could€not€afford€to€make€the€loan€payments.€€The€amount€paid€through€garnishment€isÐ D!” Ðunknown.€€Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àIn€2016,€one€of€the€student€loan€creditors€advised€Applicant€to€participate€in€an€automaticÐ $X" Ðrepayment€rehabilitation€program.€€She€thought€the€loans€were€being€paid€through€garnishment.€€SheÐ ô$D # Ðdid€not€provide€documentation€to€verify€her€current€balance.€€She€entered€into€the€rehabilitationÐ à%0!$ Ðprogram€and€pays€$5€a€month.€€After€she€completes€the€payments€for€nine€consecutive€months,€theÐ Ì&"% Ðloans€will€come€out€of€default€status€and€a€monthly€payment€arrangement€will€be€made.€€SheÐ ¸'#& Ðprovided€a€letter€from€the€student€loan€creditor€indicating€her€request€to€stop€the€garnishment€wasÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbeing€processed.€€No€additional€information€was€provided.€€She€testified€the€alleged€student€loansÐ )à$( Ðfor€about€$18,000€and€about€$11,000€remained€delinquent,€but€are€being€rehabilitated.€€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ T,¤'+ Ðà  àÐ @-(, Ðà  àThe€Judge€found€that€disqualifying€conditions€19(a)€ð ðinability€or€unwillingness€to€satisfyÐ ° Ðdebtsðð€and€19(c)€ð ðhistory€of€not€meeting€financial€obligationsðð€applied.€€€After€receiving€the€SOR,Ð œì ÐApplicant€began€a€student€loan€rehabilitation€program.€€When€that€program€is€completed,€a€newÐ ˆØ Ðmonthly€payment€will€be€determined.€€She€does€not€have€a€realistic€plan€for€managing€her€studentÐ tÄ Ðloans€payments€once€a€monthly€payment€plan€is€implemented.€€Her€student€loans€are€not€resolved.€Ð `° ÐShe€does€not€have€a€solid€understanding€of€the€specifics€of€her€student€loans.€€She€does€not€have€aÐ L œ Ðreliable€track€record€of€acting€responsibly€toward€resolving€her€student€loans.€€€Her€actions€to€resolveÐ 8 ˆ Ðthem€were€not€timely€and€cast€doubt€on€her€reliability,€trustworthiness,€and€good€judgment.€€At€thisÐ $ t Ðjuncture,€it€is€too€early€to€conclude€that€her€financial€problems€are€under€control.€€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àApplicant€contends€Department€Counsel€did€not€present€any€evidence€that€would€raise€aÐ À  Ðsecurity€concern€sufficient€to€warranted€her€unfavorable€clearance€decision.€€While€the€GovernmentÐ ¬ü  Ðbears€the€burden€of€producing€evidence€regarding€allegations€that€are€controverted€(Directive€ððÐ ˜è  ÐE3.1.14),€Applicant€relieved€the€Government€of€that€burden€by€admitting€the€two€delinquent€studentÐ „Ô  Ðloans€in€her€SOR€response.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Moreover,€the€Directive€presumes€there€is€a€nexus€or€rational€connectionÐ pÀ Ðbetween€proven€or€admitted€circumstances€under€any€of€its€guidelines€and€an€applicantððs€securityÐ \¬ Ðeligibility.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„04648€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Sep.€9,€2015).€€Direct€or€objectiveÐ H˜ Ðevidence€of€nexus€is€not€required.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€óóISCR€Case€No.€12„00084€at€3€(App.€Bd.€May€22,€2014).Ð 4„ ÐIn€this€case,€€the€record€evidence€supports€the€Judgeððs€determination€that€disqualifying€conditionsÐ  p Ð19(a)€and€19(c)€apply.€€€à  àÐ  \ ÐÌà  àIn€support€of€her€appeal,€Applicant€cites€to€Hearing€Office€decisions€that€she€argues€supportÐ ä4 Ðher€request€for€a€favorable€determination.€€The€Board€gives€due€consideration€to€these€cases.€Ð Ð  ÐHowever,€each€case€must€be€decided€upon€its€own€merits.€€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b).€€Moreover,Ð ¼  ÐHearing€Office€decisions€are€binding€neither€on€other€Hearing€Office€Judges€nor€on€the€AppealÐ ¨ø ÐBoard.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€ISCR€Case€No.€14„03747€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Nov.€13,€2015).€€Ð ”ä Ðà  àÌà  àApplicant€also€contends€the€Judge€did€not€allow€her€an€opportunity€to€testify€about€mitigatingÐ l¼ Ðconditions€and€other€factors.€€In€making€this€argument,€she€points€to€places€in€the€transcript€at€whichÐ X ¨ Ðthe€Judge€interrupted€her€testimony€to€ask€her€questions.€€€We€have€examined€the€96„page€transcriptÐ D!” Ðof€the€almost€two„hour€hearing,€paying€particular€attention€to€those€portions€that€Applicant€identifiedÐ 0"€  Ðas€exhibiting€this€alleged€tendency€by€the€Judge.€€These€instances€appear€to€be€reasonable€efforts€byÐ #l! Ðthe€Judge€to€clarify€Applicantððs€testimony€rather€than€to€preclude€a€full€and€fair€presentation€of€theÐ $X" Ðevidence.€€We€note€that€the€Judge€acknowledged€at€the€hearing€that€she€interrupted€Applicant€onÐ ô$D # Ðoccasion€and€then€gave€Applicant€opportunities€to€provide€further€testimony€until€ApplicantÐ à%0!$ Ðindicated€she€had€nothing€further€to€present.€€Tr.€at€90„91.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€record€reflects€that€Applicant€hadÐ Ì&"% Ðample€opportunity€to€present€her€side€of€the€case.€€In€light€of€the€record€as€a€whole,€Applicant€hasÐ ¸'#& Ðnot€met€her€ð ðheavy€burden€of€persuasionðð€to€establish€that€she€was€denied€due€process€rights€underÐ ° Ðthe€Directive.€€òòSeeóó€ISCR€Case€No.€05„11641€at€2„3€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€31,€2007).€€Ð œì ÐÌà  àThe€balance€of€Applicantððs€arguments€amounts€to€a€disagreement€with€the€Judgeððs€weighingÐ tÄ Ðof€the€evidence.€€In€these€arguments,€she€cites€to€evidence€favorable€to€her€case€such€as€herÐ `° Ðparticipation€in€the€student€loan€rehabilitation€program€and€the€upcoming€completion€of€her€car€loanÐ L œ Ðpayments€that€will€result€in€an€increase€of€her€discretionary€income.€€The€Judge€made€findings€aboutÐ 8 ˆ Ðmost€of€the€matters€that€Applicant€cites.€€€It€is€well€established€that€a€partyððs€disagreement€with€theÐ $ t ÐJudgeððs€weighing€of€the€evidence,€or€an€ability€to€argue€for€a€different€interpretation€of€the€evidence,Ð  ` Ðis€not€sufficient€to€demonstrate€the€Judge€weighed€the€evidence€or€reached€conclusions€in€a€mannerÐ ü L  Ðthat€is€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€òò€See,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€14„06440€at€4€(App.€Bd.Ð è 8  ÐJan.€8,€2016)òòóó.€€In€the€present€case,€Applicant€failed€to€establish€that€the€Judge€mis„weighed€the€recordÐ Ô$  Ðevidence.€€Furthermore,òò€óówe€find€no€reason€to€conclude€that€the€Judgeððs€application€of€the€mitigatingÐ À  Ðconditions€or€whole„person€factors€was€in€error.Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àÌà  àThe€Judge€examined€the€relevant€data€and€articulated€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€theÐ „Ô  Ðdecision.€€The€decision€is€sustainable€on€this€record.€€ð ðThe€general€standard€is€that€a€clearance€mayÐ pÀ Ðbe€granted€only€when€ððclearly€consistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€€òòDepartmentÐ \¬ Ðof€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€See€also€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubtÐ H˜ Ðconcerning€personnel€being€considered€for€access€to€classified€information€will€be€resolved€in€favorÐ 4„ Ðof€national€security.ððÐ  p ÐÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ øH ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.Ð Ð  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€€Michael€Y.€Raððanan€€€€€óóÐ „Ô Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Y.€RaððananÐ pÀ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ \ ¬ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ H!˜ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ø$H # Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ ä%4!$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ Ð& "% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ ¼' #& Ðà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ l+¼&* Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ X,¨'+ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ D-”(, Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ ° ÐÌÌ