Letter: Clearance process flaws suggest DOD indifference

June 17, 2008

A reader writes, "The dawdling, neglect and indifference shown in this security clearance process suggest that [the Defense Department] does not appear serious about gaining or retaining the services of professional linguists."

Workforce Management

Regarding "Back to square one on clearances" : Greetings. If [the Office of Personnel Management] has committed to speeding up the clearance process, then I would appreciate some clarification and contact by a representative at OPM to discuss the status of my [Single Scope Background Investigation], which [the Defense Security Service] completed on behalf of [the Defense Intelligence Agency] -- for a contingent contract position in Iraq that is now OBE -- and then forwarded that file to OPM for adjudication in September, 2005. Since then, I have had no contact about my SSBI by any official of DSS, DIA, OPM or other USG 'cognizant security authority,' and I cannot find a responsible or responsive person at OPM.

The dawdling, neglect and indifference shown in this security clearance process suggest that [the Defense Department] does not appear serious about gaining or retaining the services of professional linguists or others with hard-built expertise and extensive field experience in the Middle East.

Stephen H. Franke
US Army Reserve (Retired)
Arabian Peninsula and Gulf regional specialist

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A reader writes, "The dawdling, neglect and indifference shown in this security clearance process suggest that [the Defense Department] does not appear serious about gaining or retaining the services of professional linguists."