PSH-­24-0025 - In the Matter of Personnel Security Hearing

On March 29, 2024, an Administrative Judge issued a decision stating that an Individual's security clearance should not be granted. The Individual had a history of alcohol -related arrests, including three arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and two arrests for attempting to steal liquor from Walmart. A DOE-contractor psychologist (the Psychologist) diagnosed him with Unspecified Alcohol-Related Disorder and opined that he habitually or binge drank to intoxication. At the hearing, the Individual presented evidence that he had remained abstinent from alcohol for about three weeks in November and early December 2023 before relapsing. He testified that he had been abstinent for about three weeks by the date of the hearing and had attended two AA meetings in that time. The Psychologist opined that the Individual was not rehabilitated or reformed and had a poor to fair prognosis. The Administrative found that the Individual had not mitigated the Guideline G concerns and, therefore, his security clearance should not be granted. (OHA Case No. PSH­24-0025, Martin)