Author Archive

Marko Hakamaa

Marko Hakamaa served in various military police positions with the United States Army worldwide for 22 years before retiring in 2006 as a Master Sergeant. Afterwards, he has worked as a contractor background investigator, a government industrial and personnel security specialist, and as a national security and public trust background investigation adjudicator.

Obtaining Security ClearanceSecurity Clearance DenialSecurity Clearance Process

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its mission is to process and vet applications for foreign nationals who want to live, work, or study in the United States. Findings published in a recent Office of the Inspector General

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Security Clearance Process

In the past, recent use of marijuana or other THC products was a serious security concern for clearance applicants. In current times, a more holistic view is taken when evaluating a security clearance applicant with recent drug use. A recent Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) case involving a

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Security Clearance Process

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) conducts reimbursable suitability or security investigations (RSIs) to address gaps in background investigations. These may involve missing coverage of a required item, clarification of existing information, or further review of specific details. RSIs are also used for clearance upgrades and as part of

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Career Advice

In 2017, the Defense Security Service, predecessor to the current Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), issued a Notice to Contractors Cleared Under the NISP on Inadvertent Exposure to Classified in the Public Domain which provided guidance prohibiting cleared personnel from specifically searching for, downloading, or reading classified material online.

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