ÿWPC– DJ~l%)ývâtMØÄzžý>Má…—œ¿„ê‹,Kä†XÜ¢?M 0‘áií«Á°¹ºéÏTð¨BÔÅ ýÝ „š×|7SáVW;oD{<(Ü˶‘0 )+ *9™Hwh·I»ý,7Þ`¸+tC·•+ÑžûäkõÚZq±‡ÎqÒ·ˆ%JxfÞ×…„²¥h .ÚS³ º&ƒ±8¾_Y).ð~9kRÄ¢K̳'ê€ýÓ‡#&¯›vÕk‹3éFˆÚ;<­±¨Äm;ÃW&°+ôV¤ÜéËW rC©d&e4tg¾o ¶Pê•vӜȷֽ| u¼À`–0:ÙI23ÕÛ÷@_NV¥øŒ_¶8¬åúÖÇSw7«Q5fDÖ•Ž=ÌO¢žpH:Îø>_—üLMØÍàóaų—ÈÖÉãN{ùxDR´œ•‰¬÷O5k” ô]T®†ºc­ßŠþ‘¡’-où«¤œ3‘Æ•1n~Ά}£7»Ì£¨ Üëí–¯)N‡-å¼Î=ž“®GMoA=D‹NalÎLß¿wÒ‡Ð'Æì溥†9¶:z¹Îhm]tC£iAPVµÜ«€œj%Z#ÉìUNµ % 0: ^ C wO 4S g v mx àZ àZé NC C 0©E E E 0Dî àZ2 NŒ Œ EŽ é By˜Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P3010 SeriesÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô2zÁJ;E•JntFold3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE(Y(2Í´$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ôPòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE ßÝ ƒÍ´$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÔ€ôPòXXÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThere€is€no€Constitutional€right€to€counsel€in€a€DOHA€proceeding.€€DOHA€applicants€are€not€afforded€the€sameÐ ° Ðprotections€as€criminal€defendants.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€12„08972€at€2€(App.€Bd.€Apr.€25,€2016).Ô‡Xç”XòôPÔ€Ô#†ôPòXX甜#Ô dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔKEYWORD:€Guideline€C;€Guideline€BÐ ° ÐÌDIGEST:€There€is€a€rational€connection€between€an€applicantððs€family€ties€in€a€country€whoseÐ ˆØ Ðinterests€are€adverse€to€the€United€States€and€the€risk€that€the€applicant€might€fail€to€protect€andÐ tÄ Ðsafeguard€classified€information.€Adverse€decision€affirmed.Ð `° ÐÌÔ_ÔCASENOÔ_Ô:€15„00647.a1Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌDATE:€06/01/2017Ð  ` ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDATE:€June€1,€2017Ð è 8  ÐÌÌÌÒ.؉ð7r°(#°(#.ÒßA€Y) °°xdE°—gAßÐ ˜è  ÐÌIn€Re:Ð “ã  ÐÌà  à„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ìà  à€Ð W§ ÐÌApplicant€for€Security€ClearanceÐ / ÐÌßA€Y) °°xdE°gAßÐ W Ð)Ð ˜è  Ð)Ð „Ô  Ð)Ð pÀ Ð)Ð \¬ Ð)Ð H˜ Ð)Ð 4„ Ð)Ð  p Ð)Ð  \ ÐÐ øH ÐÓp°œXÓÌÌÌà p àÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€15„00647Ð \¬" ÐÐ H˜# ÐÒ.؉ð7r°°.ÒÓ °\X›XpÓÐ Ð # Ðò òÓ  ÓAPPEAL€BOARD€DECISIONÐ ¼ $ ÐÌÌòòAPPEARANCESóóÐ €Ð' Ðó óÌÔ‡&âÇ%XXÔò òFOR€GOVERNMENTó óÐ X ¨) ÐJames€B.€Norman,€Esq.,€Chief€Department€CounselÐ 0!€* ÐÌò òFOR€APPLICANTó óÐ à"0, ÐBradley€J.€Ô_ÔHaddyÔ_Ô,€Esq.Ô#†Xç”X%&âǯ#ÔÐ ¸#- ÐÌÓ  ÓÌà  àThe€Department€of€Defense€(DoD)€declined€to€grant€Applicant€a€security€clearance.€€OnÐ h&¸!0 ÐAugust€27,€2015,€DoD€issued€a€statement€of€reasons€(Ô_ÔSORÔ_Ô)€advising€Applicant€of€the€basis€for€thatÐ T'¤"1 Ðdecisionð!ðsecurity€concerns€raised€under€Guideline€C€(Foreign€Preference)€and€Guideline€B€(ForeignÐ @(#2 ÐInfluence)€of€Department€of€Defense€Directive€5220.6€(Jan.€2,€1992,€as€amended)€(Directive).€Ð ,)|$3 ÐApplicant€requested€a€decision€on€the€written€record.€€On€February€27,€2017,€after€considering€theÐ *h%4 Ðrecord,€Defense€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€(DOHA)€Administrative€Judge€Thomas€M.€Ô_ÔCreanÔ_ÔÐ +T&5 Ðdenied€Applicantððs€request€for€a€security€clearance.€€Applicant€appealed€pursuant€to€Directive€ðððð€Ð ð+@'6 ÐE3.1.28€and€E3.1.30.Ð Ü,,(7 ÐÐ È-)8 Ðà  àApplicant€raised€the€following€issues€on€appeal:€whether€Applicant€was€denied€due€process;Ð ° Ðwhether€the€Judge€erred€in€concluding€that€her€circumstances€raised€security€concerns;€and€whetherÐ œì ÐÔ_Ôthe€Judgeððs€adverse€decision€was€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€to€law.€€Consistent€with€theÐ ˆØ Ðfollowing,€we€affirm.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Findings€of€Factó óÐ L œ ÐÌà  àApplicant€was€born€in€Iran,€coming€to€the€U.S.€in€the€early€1980s,€where€she€attendedÐ $ t Ðcollege.€€She€became€a€U.S.€citizen€in€the€early€2000s.€€She€has€worked€for€a€Defense€contractorÐ  ` Ðsince€2008.€€Applicantððs€husband€and€her€children€were€born€in€Iran,€but€they€are€now€U.S.€citizens.€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àApplicant€received€a€U.S.€passport€shortly€after€she€became€a€U.S.€citizen.€€She€also€has€anÐ Ô$  ÐIranian€passport€that€was€last€renewed€about€five€years€ago.€€Applicant€made€four€trips€to€IranÐ À  Ðbetween€2000€and€2012,€each€time€using€her€Iranian€passport.€€She€maintains€Iranian€citizenship€andÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€passport€to€facilitate€entry€into€Iran.€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àApplicantððs€parents€and€four€siblings€are€citizens€and€residents€of€Iran.€€Applicantððs€fatherÐ pÀ Ðretired€from€the€Iranian€military.€€She€contacts€her€parents€about€once€a€month.€€One€of€ApplicantððsÐ \¬ Ðsiblings€is€retired€from€a€job€with€an€agency€of€the€Iranian€government,€and€another€retired€from€theÐ H˜ ÐIranian€military.€€She€speaks€with€them€about€once€as€year.€€In€addition,€Applicantððs€husband€has€aÐ 4„ Ðfriend€who€is€a€citizen€and€resident€of€Iran.€€She€and€her€husband€contact€the€friend€by€telephone€twoÐ  p Ðor€three€times€a€year€and€visit€this€person€when€they€travel€to€Iran.€€€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àIran€is€a€country€that€has€been€hostile€to€the€U.S.€since€the€revolution€of€1979.€€It€supportsÐ ä4 Ðterrorist€groups,€and€its€human€rights€practices€are€of€concern€to€the€U.S.€€The€Judge€stated€that€IranððsÐ Ð  Ðinterests€are€inimical€to€those€of€the€U.S.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àò òThe€Judgeððs€Analysisó óÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€cited€to€evidence€that€Applicant€has€close€relatives€as€well€as€a€friend€in€a€hostileÐ l¼ Ðcountry€with€whom€she€communicates€regularly.€€He€concluded€that€this€evidence€shows€aÐ X ¨ Ðheightened€risk€that€Applicant€could€be€subjected€to€coercion€or€be€placed€in€a€conflict€of€interest.€Ð D!” ÐHe€also€concluded€that€Applicantððs€travels€to€Iran€and€her€use€of€an€Iranian€passport€raise€concernsÐ 0"€  Ðunder€Guideline€C,€in€that€use€of€a€foreign€passport€constitutes€an€exercise€of€a€foreign€right€orÐ #l! Ðprivilege.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€concluded€that€Applicantððs€evidence€did€not€mitigate€the€concerns€raised€by€herÐ à%0!$ Ðpassport€and€her€Iranian€relatives.€€He€observed€that€there€is€a€presumption€that€a€person€has€ties€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðaffection€and€obligation€to€immediate€family€members.€€He€stated€that€the€facts€of€this€case€show€thatÐ ¸'#& ÐApplicant€is€close€to€her€Iranian€relatives€and€communicates€with€them€regularly.€€He€concluded€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€evidence€she€had€submitted€was€not€sufficient€to€outweigh€the€chance€that€her€relatives€and€friendÐ )à$( Ðcould€become€a€means€through€which€she€may€be€subjected€to€pressure€or€coercion.€€Concerning€herÐ |*Ì%) Ðpassport,€the€Judge€cited€to€evidence€that€Applicant,€her€husband,€and€her€children€all€possess€IranianÐ h+¸&* Ðpassports€in€order€to€enter€and€exit€Iran.€€He€concluded€that€Applicant€had€not€mitigated€theÐ T,¤'+ ÐGuideline€B€or€Guideline€C€concerns€raised€by€the€SOR€and€evidenced€by€the€record.Ð @-(, Їà  àò òDiscussionó óÐ ° ÐÌà  àApplicantððs€appeal€brief€includes€reference€to€matters€not€contained€in€the€record.€€We€cannotÐ ˆØ Ðconsider€new€evidence€on€appeal.€€Directive€ðð€E3.1.29.€€Applicant€argues€that€it€is€not€clear€that€herÐ tÄ Ðdecision€to€represent€herself€was€knowing€and€intelligent.€€We€note€that€the€File€of€Relevant€MaterialÐ `° Ð(FORM)€was€accompanied€by€a€cover€letter€from€DOHA€administrative€personnel.€€This€letterÐ L œ Ðnotified€her€of€her€right€to€respond€to€the€FORM.€€It€also€contained€the€following€language:Ð 8 ˆ Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àAlthough€it€is€not€required€that€you€be€represented€or€assisted€by€an€attorney€toÐ  ` Ðprepare€your€response€to€the€Governmentððs€file€of€relevant€material,€you€have€theÐ ü L  Ðright€to€be€represented€by€counsel,€and€your€careful€attention€to€this€matter€isÐ è 8  Ðimportant,€since€any€determination€that€may€be€made€by€the€Administrative€Judge€toÐ Ô$  Ðdeny€or€revoke€your€security€clearance€will€be€reported€to€your€employer€and€couldÐ À  Ðaffect€your€current€employment€and€your€future€employability.€Ð¬ü Ð Ð  ÐÌIn€addition,€Applicant€received€a€copy€of€the€Directive€with€the€SOR€and€another€with€the€FORM.€Ð „Ô  ÐThe€Directive€spells€out€the€rights€an€applicant€enjoys€at€a€DOHA€proceeding,€including€the€rightÐ pÀ Ðto€counsel.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€We€find€no€reason€to€believe€that€Applicant€was€denied€adequate€notice€of€her€right€toÐ \¬ Ðcounsel.€€As€the€Judge€found,€she€has€lived€in€the€U.S.€for€decades€and€has€attended€college€in€thisÐ H˜ Ðcountry,€which€would€indicate€a€sufficient€facility€in€the€English€language€to€enable€her€to€haveÐ 4„ Ðunderstood€the€material€she€received€explaining€her€rights.€€Applicant€was€not€denied€the€due€processÐ  p Ðafforded€by€the€Directive.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.€15„04472€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Feb.€9,€2017).€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àApplicant€argues€that€her€circumstances€do€not€raise€security€concerns.€€We€note€first€of€allÐ ä4 Ðthat€the€Directive€presumes€that€there€is€a€nexus,€or€rational€connection,€between€admitted€or€provedÐ Ð  Ðfacts€under€any€of€the€Guidelines€and€an€applicantððs€eligibility€for€a€clearance.€€€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€CaseÐ ¼  ÐISCR€Case€No.€15„02903€at€2€(App.€Bd.€Mar.€9,€2017).€€Applicant€admitted€each€of€the€SORÐ ¨ø Ðallegations,€which€alone€would€give€rise€to€the€presumption.€€In€addition,€the€Government€submittedÐ ”ä Ðsubstantial€evidence€and€official€notice€documents€that€establish€the€essential€facts€in€this€case.Ð €Ð Ѐ€Ð l¼ Ðà  àThese€facts€must€be€understood€in€light€of€law€and€policy€governing€the€security€significanceÐ X ¨ Ðof€an€applicantððs€connections€in€and€with€a€foreign€country.€€Regarding€Guideline€B,€the€nature€ofÐ D!” Ðthe€foreign€government€involved,€its€human€rights€record,€and€the€presence€of€terrorist€activity€areÐ 0"€  Ðimportant€considerations€that€provide€context€for€the€other€record€evidence€and€must€be€brought€toÐ #l! Ðbear€on€the€Judgeððs€ultimate€conclusions€in€the€case.€€òòóóThere€is€a€rational€connection€between€anÐ $X" Ðapplicantððs€family€ties€in€a€country€whose€interests€are€adverse€to€the€United€States€and€the€risk€thatÐ ô$D # Ðthe€applicant€might€fail€to€protect€and€safeguard€classified€information.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€ISCR€Case€No.Ð à%0!$ Ð15„00528€at€3€(App.€Bd.€Mar.€13,€2017);€ISCR€Case€No.€05„03250€at€4„5€(App.€Bd.€Apr.€6,€2007).€Ð Ì&"% ÐUnder€Guideline€C,€the€Directive€provides€that€a€person€can€indicate€a€preference€for€another€countryÐ ¸'#& Ðby€exercising€a€prerogative€of€foreign€citizenship,€such€as€possession€of€a€foreign€passport.€Ô_ÔÐ ¤(ô#' ÐDirective,€Enclosure€2€ðð€10(a).€€òòSeeóó€Ô_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€03„12349€at€4€(App.€Bd.€Sep.€27,€2004).€€UnderÐ )à$( Ðthe€facts€of€this€case€we€find€no€reason€to€disturb€the€presumption€of€nexus.€€The€Judgeððs€conclusionÐ |*Ì%) Ðthat€Applicantððs€circumstances€raise€security€concerns€is€sustainable.€€Ð ° ÐÌà  àApplicant€argues€that€she€does€not€actually€come€in€contact€with€classified€information€in€theÐ ˆØ Ðperformance€of€her€duties.€€However,€this€is€not€a€relevant€matter€for€our€consideration.€€OurÐ tÄ Ðjurisdiction€is€limited€to€consideration€of€the€following€areas:€whether€the€Judgeððs€findings€areÐ `° Ðsupported€by€substantial€evidence;€whether€the€Judge€adhered€to€the€procedural€requirements€of€theÐ L œ ÐDirective;€and€whether€the€Judgeððs€rulings€and€conclusions€are€arbitrary,€capricious,€or€contrary€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðlaw.€€Directive€ðð€E3.1.32.€€We€have€no€authority€to€consider€the€extent€to€which€an€applicant€mayÐ $ t Ðor€may€not€actually€have€access€to€classified€information€in€the€course€of€his€or€her€job.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,Ð  ` ÐÔ_ÔISCRÔ_Ô€Case€No.€14„00508€at€2„3€(App.€Bd.€Jan.€23,€2015).€€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àThe€Judge€examined€the€relevant€evidence€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 À  Ðbe€granted€only€when€ððclearly€consistent€with€the€interests€of€the€national€security.ðððð€€òòDepartmentÐ ¬ü  Ðof€the€Navy€v.€Eganóó,€484€U.S.€518,€528€(1988).€€òòSee€alsoóó€Directive,€Enclosure€2€ðð€2(b):€€ð ðAny€doubtÐ ˜è  Ðconcerning€personnel€being€considered€for€access€to€classified€information€will€be€resolved€in€favorÐ „Ô  Ðof€the€national€security.ðð€Ð pÀ ÐÌà@ââ(ìàò òOrderó óˆÐ H˜ ÐÌà  àThe€Decision€is€ò òAFFIRMEDó ó.€€€Ð  p ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€Michael€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_Ô€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ Ô$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMichael€Ô_ÔRaððananÔ_ÔÐ À Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ¬ü Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àChairperson,€Appeal€BoardÐ ˜è ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€E.€Moody€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ H!˜ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€E.€MoodyÐ 4"„  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ  #p! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€BoardÐ  $\" ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòòSigned:€James€F.€Duffy€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô_ÔóóÔ_ÔÐ ¼' #& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àJames€F.€DuffyÐ ¨(ø#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAdministrative€JudgeÐ ”)ä$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMember,€Appeal€Ô_ÔBoardÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ €*Ð%) Ð