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 transitioned into the civilian workforce as a contractor background investigator for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before entering civil service as a Security Specialist in 2009.

Obtaining Security Clearance

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Everyday immigrants from all over the world legally enter the United States to live and work as permanent resident aliens. Eventually, after meeting residency requirements, they apply for and are granted U.S. citizenship. This now opens the door to becoming eligible for a security clearance and many who work on

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Obtaining Security Clearance

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In 2010 the Office of Personnel Management introduced an updated Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86), while at the same time it was transitioning from the hard copy to electronic submission of the form through e-QIP. Now that the transition is complete, there are still numerous questions and confusion about

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Background Investigations

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Senate Passes Bill to Terminate Those Who Falsify Background Investigation Information On December 15, 2014 the Senate passed the Security Clearance Accountability, Reform, and Enhancement Act and sent it to the House of Representatives for a vote. The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to take action against

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Security Clearance Denial

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In a recent Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) case the original decision to remove a Department of the Navy employee due to his security clearance being revoked was upheld by the board. Specifically, the employee was removed for failure to maintain a top secret security clearance as a condition of

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