Marko Hakamaa
NBIB Director Outlines Major Focuses for Background Investigations
In a recent interview with Security Management (ASIS Online), Charlie Phalen, Director of the National Background Investigations Bureau, outlined the challenges NBIB inherited from OPM’s Federal Investigative Services and what the focus is going forward. Phalen stated “there were two big main focuses. One is, there is this backlog of
Failure to Report Foreign Contacts Gets State Department Employee in Hot Water
There has been much discussion about what constitutes a foreign national contact when filling out the SF-86 or what the reporting requirements are under continuous evaluation. Opinions are diverse and open to a matter of interpretation. However, a State Department employee who had a Top Secret security clearance went a
A Guide to Position Designation and Investigation Type
There is still a lot of confusion out there about what type of investigation is needed for a particular position and whether it results in a security clearance. Do you know if the job you applied for is low risk with no clearance, public trust with no clearance, or a
When Your Bad Attitude Could Cost You Your Security Clearance
The first case heard by the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals Board in 2017 involved issues regarding handling protected information, misuse of IT systems, and personal conduct. The crux of this case stemmed from the applicant’s continued disregard for following company instructions not to access classified information that he