Volume 1, Issue 9
SE&M Solutions LLC publishes The In-Brief to help keep government and industry leaders aware of important issues in the personnel security, suitability, Trusted Workforce 2.0, background investigations, adjudications, counterintelligence, industrial security communities.
Articles of Interest
Is it “Okay to Not be Okay” in the Military?
In this article by Gary Drevitch in Psychology Today, Drevitch comments on mental health language and policies in the military. Drevitch states that the “Military is adopting language that may be harmful to the success of our warfighters and our nation. This language — while it might be appropriate in a therapist’s office — does not belong in the everyday vocabulary and collective mentality of the armed forces”. As the co-author of Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma, he describes “training scars” that create a standard of mediocrity and complacency. Mental health and wellness is a critical element of the security clearance process.
Chinese Spies Targeting Disgruntled Employees in US
The U.S. and its companies must prepare for the possibility of more cyberattacks from an increasing number of threat actors across the globe, and China is the biggest one states an article by CNBC. CEOs need to be aware that China targets disgruntled employees who can be recruited to steal data or IP. Michael C. Casey, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said at the CNBC CEO Council Summit on Tuesday that he is “stunned by the number of companies that have no concept of their insider threat.” The best strategy for CEOs is to share information with the public sector. “If you don’t know your local FBI representative, you’re doing something wrong,” he said. And with China and Russia already targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, such as water supplies, CEOs must run worst-case scenario drills should these systems be taken down.
FBI Specialist Regains Security Clearance After Capitol Riot
An FBI staffer accused of “conspiratorial” views about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot has regained his security clearance as part of a settlement with the FBI — and won back pay lost according to an article by the NY Post. Staff operations specialist Marcus Allen was informed May 31 that his top-secret security clearance had been reinstated following his suspension over “security concerns” about his “allegiance to the United States,” a letter from the FBI’s HR department shows.
Army Security Briefing Labeled Anti-Abortion, Animal Activist Groups as Potential Terrorists
Army personnel in charge of security at the gates of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, received an anti-terrorism briefing that identified mainstream lobbying groups, partisan organizations, and non-violent political activism alongside terror groups such as the Islamic State and the Ku Klux Klan. “The slides were developed by a local garrison employee to train soldiers manning access control points at Fort Liberty,” an Army spokesperson told Military.com in a statement. “These slides will no longer be used, and all future training products will be reviewed to ensure they align with the current DoD anti-terrorism guidance”. The incorrectly listed groups included both left and right-wing groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and National Right to Life.
Michael Hill Assumes Deputy CIO Post at DCSA
Michael Hill has joined the Department of Defense as deputy chief information officer of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, according to GovCon Wire. He most recently served as director of the Data Center Service Division at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Previously, he was with the Department of Justice as an assistant CIO for engineering and operations within its Civil Division served at the Department of Veterans Affairs for seven years, and also completed a stint at the Library of Congress.
Concerns Grow Over Gambling Addiction in the Military
An article by NBC New York states that diagnoses of pathological gambling disorders among servicemembers and veterans are soaring, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Servicemembers are more vulnerable than civilians to gambling disorders and may be hesitant to self-report, the VA research found. Around patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, many casinos and sportsbooks send targeted promotions to servicemembers and veterans. As of 2017, the Department of Defense operated more than 3,100 slot machines on U.S. military installations in a dozen foreign countries, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. The machines produce more than $100 million annually in revenue and are seen as a morale booster for the welfare and recreation for servicemembers akin to activities like golf, libraries, and other entertainment. Overseas, servicemembers as young as 18 may be permitted to gamble. Gambling problems could fall under the National Adjudicative Guidelines E (personal conduct) and F (financial considerations).
Australian Army Private and her Husband Accused of Spying for Russia
AP News reports that an Australian army private and her husband accused of spying for Russia were denied bail on the first charges against suspected operatives. Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor Korolev, 62, are Russian-born Australian citizens and hold Russian passports. They did not enter pleas and will appear next in a federal court on Sept. 20. Their lawyers made no public statements. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw states, “We allege they sought that information to provide it to Russian authorities. Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation”.
Air Force Veteran Indicted for Leaking Info on Aircraft & Weapons
A federal grand jury indicted an Air Force veteran for unauthorized possession and dissemination of sensitive national security information, including details of the vulnerabilities of U.S. military aircraft states MilitaryTimes.com. Paul J. Freeman, 68, of Niceville, Florida, was charged with four counts of illegally retaining information regarding Air Force aircraft and weapon systems and five counts of sharing it with unauthorized personnel, according to a federal indictment unsealed on June 27. If convicted, Freeman would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison per charge.
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About SE&M
SE&M Solutions LLC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Harrisburg, PA. We are experts in personnel security, continuous vetting, Trusted Workforce 2.0 (TW2.0) policies, processes, and information technology. We offer professional services and IT support including staff augmentation, consulting, planning and implementation for clients in the federal, state, local and commercial sectors. For more information, contact SE&M at [email protected].