ÿWPCš  îD?9§XEÚiàmn6õÖ…«T•Îܾ•šØue_%€^"¥Ùfµuz³žK ‹]’Dž¹¹}¦÷bçîÕEüË]%ç›zùV¾žš¶‘C•6Œ²~+ÆžÎOʉô­ÜiÕò¬bœ¹É1CÄ?É0m>fì,úXDPýï,•ñU‚z¸R1ȪޕŒ&ÉX·ÁÜJ&èXi,lÆ}ñÐAêé+1>žúdbäñœtF~õÒ ÿ£áT"?SùØî¬KàDòÒN‹|ï†g’Â9 Èj„þkîD‚v)GtŸ,vHÅ|Úrz2½³;×îÈ°ñö ±ÙœÄ¡0ÔtPõô“/£@Œ~ÏÖ½Âù,® §nËùª™óL’ÞL{§WF w—ÊÏ­lŠáÓ£ÅÖ]ïÎR~ï¬àÍpñ«;¸ù0ËÅw•èþE¾ç|ˆ¨wj ؾ-℈‘u÷ W#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß àZ ^ s w 4ƒ — ¦ m¨ àZ¿ N N àZ bw E{ { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { B} ˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE¢pJ•(Ž#2 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€G€(Alcohol€Consumption)€of€Department€ofÐ *)z$3 ÐDefense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€€Applicant€requested€a€hearing.€Ð *f%4 ÐOn€January€17,€2017,€after€the€hearing,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€(DOHA)Ð +R&5 ÐAdministrative€Judge€Darlene€D.€Ô_ÔLokeyÔ_Ô€Anderson€denied€Applicantððs€request€for€a€securityÐ î+>'6 Ðclearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€E3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð Ú,*(7 ÐÐ Æ-)8 Ðà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€the€Judge€erred€in€concluding€heÐ ° Ðis€an€alcoholic€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€adverse€decision€was€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€Ð œì ÐConsistent€with€the€following,€we€affirm.Ð ˆØ ÐÔ_ ÔÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Fact€ó ó€Ð `° ÐÌà  àApplicant€is€a€54„year„old€employee€of€a€defense€contractor.€€He€is€divorced€with€twoÐ < Œ Ðchildren.€€He€started€consuming€alcohol€at€age€21.€€After€he€and€his€ex„wife€separated€in€2009,€heÐ ( x Ðwent€to€a€bar€once€or€twice€during€the€week€and€on€weekends€to€avoid€loneliness.€€He€was€never€aÐ  d Ðdaily€drinker€nor€drank€at€home€alone,€but€described€himself€as€more€of€a€ð ðbinge€drinker.ðð€€DecisionÐ  P  Ðat€2.€€In€2010,€he€was€arrested€and€charged€with€driving€under€the€influence€of€alcohol€(DUI).€€HeÐ ì <  Ðblew€a€.12%€on€a€breathalyzer€test.€€He€pled€nolo€contendere€to€the€DUI€charge€and€was€sentencedÐ Ø(  Ðto€a€fine€and€required€to€attend€a€six„month€alcohol€awareness€class,€a€Mothers€Against€DrunkÐ Ä  ÐDriving€(MADD)€class,€and€Alcohol€Anonymous€(AA)€meetings.€€After€his€arrest,€he€stoppedÐ °  Ðconsuming€alcohol€for€about€six€to€eight€months,€but€then€returned€to€socializing€with€friends€at€aÐ œì  Ðbar.Ð ˆØ  ÐÌà  àIn€2015,€Applicant€went€to€the€bar€following€a€promotion.€€Friends€bought€him€drinks€toÐ `° Ðcelebrate.€€He€consumed€about€six€or€seven€beers€before€driving€home.€€He€was€pulled€over€by€theÐ Lœ Ðpolice,€arrested,€and€charged€with€DUI.€€He€spend€four€days€in€jail.€€He€pled€nolo€contendere€to€theÐ 8ˆ ÐDUI€charge€and€was€sentenced€to€five€days€in€jail,€four€years€of€probation,€community€service,€anÐ $t Ð18„month€second€offender€alcohol€and€drug€education€and€counseling€program,€and€a€substantialÐ ` Ðfine.€€He€remains€on€probation€until€2018.€€Ð üL Ðà  àÌà  àApplicant€does€not€believe€he€is€an€alcoholic.€€However,€a€letter€from€the€alcohol€awarenessÐ Ô$ Ðcourse€he€is€attending€characterizes€him€as€a€ð ðself„admitted€alcoholic€relating€traditional€symptomsÐ À Ðof€alcoholism,€including€loss€of€control€over€intake€once€drinking€commenced.ðð€€Decision€at€3,€citingÐ ¬ü ÐApplicantððs€Exhibit€(AE)€B.€€He€attended€only€the€counseling€and€AA€meetings€that€the€courtÐ ˜è Ðordered.€€He€does€not€have€an€AA€sponsor€and€has€not€worked€on€the€12„step€program.€€He€no€longerÐ „Ô Ðgoes€to€bars€to€socialize.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àApplicant€has€received€accolades€as€a€stellar€performer.€€In€2014€and€2015,€he€received€theÐ H!˜ Ðhighest€work€performance€rating.Ð 4"„  Ðà  àÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ  $\" ÐÌà  àApplicant€is€an€alcoholic€who€is€a€binge€drinker.€€He€remains€in€denial€and€does€not€believeÐ ä%4!$ Ðhe€is€an€alcoholic.€€None€of€the€mitigating€conditions€are€applicable.€€He€claims€that€he€has€notÐ Ð& "% Ðconsumed€any€alcohol€since€his€last€DUI€arrest.€€He€is€commended€for€this€effort€and€encouragedÐ ¼' #& Ðto€continued€with€his€sobriety;€however,€given€that€he€has€abused€alcohol€for€years,€simply€quittingÐ ¨(ø#' Ðfor€a€year€or€so€is€not€enough€to€show€he€will€not€relapse€again.€à È àÐ ”)ä$( ÐÌà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ l+¼&* Ðà  àÐ X,¨'+ Ðà  àApplicant€contends€that€the€Judge€erred€in€concluding€that€he€is€an€alcoholic€and€remains€inÐ ° Ðdenial,€but€acknowledges€that€he€has€a€ð ðproblem/issue€with€alcohol€consumption€as€an€occasionalÐ œì Ðalcohol€abuser€(binge).ðð€€Appeal€Brief€at€1.€€In€deciding€whether€the€Judge's€analysis€or€conclusionsÐ ˆØ Ðare€erroneous,€we€will€review€the€decision€to€determine€whether:€€it€does€not€examine€relevantÐ tÄ Ðevidence;€it€fails€to€articulate€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€its€conclusions,€including€a€rationalÐ `° Ðconnection€between€the€facts€found€and€the€choice€made;€it€does€not€consider€relevant€factors;€itÐ L œ Ðreflects€a€clear€error€of€judgment;€it€fails€to€consider€an€important€aspect€of€the€case;€it€offers€anÐ 8 ˆ Ðexplanation€for€the€decision€that€runs€contrary€to€the€record€evidence;€or€it€is€so€implausible€that€itÐ $ t Ðcannot€be€ascribed€to€a€mere€difference€of€opinion.€€òòSeeóó€ISCR€Case€No.€14„02563€at€3„4€(App.€Bd.Ð  ` ÐAug.€28,€2015).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àAt€the€hearing,€Applicant€offered€into€evidence€a€letter€from€the€director€of€an€alcoholÐ Ô$  Ðcounseling€program€who€is€a€certified€addictions€treatment€counselor€(CATC).€€The€letter€stated,€asÐ À  Ðquoted€by€the€Judge,€that€Applicant€enrolled€in€the€program€ð ðas€a€self„admitted€alcoholic;€relatingÐ ¬ü  Ðtraditional€symptoms€of€alcoholism,€including€loss€of€control€over€intake€once€drinkingÐ ˜è  Ðcommenced.ðð€€Decision€at€3.€€The€letter€also€stated€that€Applicant€came€to€accept€his€alcoholismÐ „Ô  Ðthrough€participation€in€the€program.€€AE€B.€€At€the€hearing,€Applicant€testified€that€he€did€notÐ pÀ Ðbelieve€he€was€an€alcoholic€but€was€a€binge€drinker.€€He€further€stated€he€does€not€need€alcohol,€canÐ \¬ Ðdo€without€it,€and€never€has€been€diagnosed€as€an€alcoholic,€but€acknowledged€his€binge€drinkingÐ H˜ Ðwas€an€alcoholic€symptom.€€Tr.€at€50„56.€€In€the€Appeal€Brief,€Applicant€contends€that€he€is€smartÐ 4„ Ðand€has€properly€diagnosed€his€own€alcohol€issues.€€From€our€review€of€the€record,€the€Board€findsÐ  p Ðthat€the€Judgeððs€conclusions€about€the€nature€of€Applicantððs€alcohol€problem€are€based€on€substantialÐ  \ Ðevidence,€or€constitute€reasonable€characterizations€or€inferences€that€could€be€drawn€from€theÐ øH Ðrecord.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€12„03420€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€25,€2014).Ð ä4 ÐÌòòóóà  àApplicant€also€contends€the€Judge€erred€in€other€findings€and€conclusions.€€For€example,€he€Ð ¼  Ðasserts€that€she€erred€in€concluding€he€abused€alcohol€for€over€35€years.€€He€testified€that€he€beganÐ ¨ø Ðconsuming€alcohol€at€age€21€(Tr.€at€32)€and€points€out€that,€according€to€the€Judge,€he€would€haveÐ ”ä Ðbegun€consuming€alcohol€at€age€19.€€Even€though€the€Judge€erred€in€her€calculation€about€the€spanÐ €Ð Ðof€his€alcohol€consumption€and€may€have€erred€in€other€regards,€we€conclude€any€of€those€errorsÐ l¼ Ðwere€harmless€because€they€likely€had€no€impact€on€the€ultimate€decision.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.Ð X ¨ Ð14„03601€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Jul.€1,€2015).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àAt€the€hearing€and€in€his€Appeal€Brief,€Applicant€stated€that€he€met€with€a€GovernmentÐ #l! Ðrepresentative€in€late€2015,€was€informed€that€he€could€retain€his€security€clearance,€and€signed€aÐ $X" Ðwarning€letter.€€Tr.€at€18.€€The€record€of€this€proceeding€does€not€contain€the€warning€letter.€€EvenÐ ô$D # Ðif€we€consider€his€statements€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€him,€we€do€not€conclude€that,€when€DoDÐ à%0!$ Ðissued€the€SOR€in€2016,€there€was€a€current€investigation€or€adjudication€of€Applicant€in€place€byÐ Ì&"% Ðany€other€agency.€€Therefore,€the€reciprocity€provisions€in€either€Executive€Order€13467€or€DoDÐ ¸'#& Ð5520.22„M,€òòNational€Industrial€Security€Programóó,€are€not€applicable€in€this€case.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCRÐ ¤(ô#' ÐCase€No.€04„12742€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Feb.€25,€2011).€Ð )à$( Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àApplicant€argues€the€Judge€erred€in€her€mitigation€and€whole„person€analysis.€€In€doing€so,Ð h+¸&* Ðhe€cites€to€such€matters€as€his€career€achievements,€his€successful€completion€of€an€18„monthÐ T,¤'+ Ðsubstance€abuse€program,€his€willingness€to€take€alcohol€tests,€and€his€21€months€of€sobriety.€€TheseÐ ° Ðarguments€are€neither€enough€to€rebut€the€presumption€that€the€Judge€considered€all€of€the€evidenceÐ œì Ðin€the€record€nor€are€they€sufficient€to€show€that€the€Judge€weighed€the€evidence€in€a€manner€thatÐ ˆØ Ðwas€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€15„04856€at€2„3€(App.€Ô_ ÔBd.Ð tÄ ÐMar.€9,€2017).€€Additionally,€we€find€no€basis€for€concluding€the€Judge€erred€in€her€whole„personÐ `° Ðanalysis.Ð L œ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àApplicant€has€not€identified€any€harmful€error€likely€to€change€the€outcome€of€the€case.€€TheÐ $ t ÐJudge€examined€the€relevant€evidence€and€articulated€a€satisfactory€explanation€for€the€decision.€Ð  ` Ðð ðThe€general€standard€is€that€a€clearance€may€be€granted€only€when€ððclearly€consistent€with€theÐ ü L  Ðinterests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€€òòDepartment€of€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€òòSeeÐ è 8  Ðalsoóó€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubt€concerning€personnel€being€considered€for€accessÐ Ô$  Ðto€classified€information€will€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€national€security.ðð€€The€decision€isÐ À  Ðsustainable€on€this€record.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.€€Ð \¬ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Ô_ ÔRaððananÔ_ Ô€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Ô_ ÔRaððananÔ_ ÔÐ üL Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ è8 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ Ô$ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€William€S.€Fields€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ „Ô Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àWilliam€S.€FieldsÐ pÀ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ \ ¬ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ H!˜ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô_ ÔóóÔ_ ÔÐ ø$H # Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ ä%4!$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ Ð& "% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€Ô_ ÔBoardÔ_ ÔÔ_ ÔÔ_ ÔÐ ¼' #& ÐÌÌ