Volume 1, Issue 3
SE&M Solutions LLC publishes The In-Brief to help keep government and industry leaders aware of essential issues in the personnel security, suitability, Trusted Workforce 2.0, background investigations, adjudications, counterintelligence, and industrial security communities.
Articles of Interest
Computers Sold at Navy Exchange Pose Potential Security Threats
According to an article by Military Times, Lawmakers are urging Navy Exchange officials to stop selling Lenovo computers and other products, because of their reported links to the People’s Republic of China government. “Lenovo is closely affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the [People’s Republic of China] government,” stated the letter, signed by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin. Lenovo officials responded that since 2005, when it bought IBM ’s PC division, the company has successfully completed five national security reviews by the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and has fully complied with post-review audits and oversight requirements.
Continuous Vetting Security Clearance Process is Expanding
Gov Exec writes that Biden administration officials on Monday announced plans to expand the use of the new “continuous vetting (CV)” process for reviewing existing federal workers’ background checks to all “public trust” government positions by September 2024. Part of an initiative dating back to the Trump administration, continuous vetting refers to a new process by which the federal government uses automated data checks, such as credit histories and criminal records, to continuously monitor federal workers’ suitability to maintain a security clearance or otherwise serve in positions that require public trust. CV replaces the need for most periodic reinvestigations, and proponents hope the new process results in detecting issues faster and intervening before employees get past the point of no return and risk losing their clearance, access or jobs.
Social Media’s Impact on Clearance Applications
A research paper created and published by INSA’S Insider Threat Subcommittee examines clearance applicants’ publicly available social media accounts. As the federal government adapts to rapidly changing technology and online behaviors by individuals using social media, it is imperative that it updates policies and procedures associated with personnel vetting. Additionally, there is a need to improve messaging to the public and the cleared community regarding how online conduct can impact eligibility for obtaining a clearance.
DCSA Director Bill Lietzau Retires, Daniel Lecce Instated as Acting Director
William Lietzau has stepped down from his role as director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), marking his retirement from the federal service. GovCon Wire reports that the former DCSA director and 2023 Wash100 Award winner was recognized on Thursday in a Transfer of Authority ceremony, held at the National Museum of The Marine Corps. The event honored, highlighted, and reflected upon Lietzau’s impact, DCSA stewardship, and federal service career. During the ceremony, command of the agency was passed onto DCSA Deputy Director Daniel Lecce, who will now serve as acting director.
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Welcomes Two New Board Members
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense welcomes two new members to the leadership team guiding the strategic vision for the company. Mary Griggs and Lt. Gen. Thomas Todd join the company’s board as Outside Directors and members of the Government Security Committee. Ms. Griggs has more than a decade of experience as a board leader guiding companies operating under Special Security Agreements with the United States government and is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service. Lt. Gen. Todd is retired from the US Army, where his 34-year career combined aviation roles with leadership positions in research and development, acquisition, and modernization, culminating in his assignment as the Deputy Commanding General of Army Futures Command.
Retired 4-Star Officers Dominate the Defense Industry
More than 80% of the highest-ranking military officers who left the service over the past five years moved into jobs working for the defense industry, Military.com reports. This research done by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft found that many four-star officers — 15 — opted to take spots on the boards or act as advisers to “small and medium-sized arms contractors.” Five became executives for one of the nation’s top arms contractors.
Continuous Vetting for Security Clearances Now Applies to Trusted Positions
Frequently confused with a security clearance, positions of public trust are a separate category, and used to identify positions that have access to sensitive, but not classified, information. GovExec reports that while the number of individuals with an active federal security clearance is approximately five million, the number of individuals that fall into a public trust position is significantly higher. The only way the government was able to determine if an individual should keep that trusted position or access was with an episodic check-in, or periodic reinvestigation. Thanks to Trusted Workforce, the kind of continuous vetting that’s already helping identify risk factors for the security clearance population will apply across the federal workforce, including contractors in support functions.
Viral Social Media Post About CBD Drinks at Air Force Exchange Stores is Debunked
Stripes reports that a relabeled energy drink sold at Army and Air Force Exchange stores did not contain the marijuana compound CBD, which the exchange said in a social media statement. A post on the popular social media site U.S. Army WTF! Moments on Saturday contained images of a KILL CLIFF energy drink with the plastic outer label removed to reveal printing on the can from one of its products containing CBD, which is illegal for service members to use under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law.
CIA Director Michael Hayden Reported to Capitol Police by Sen. Tuberville
Military Times has also reported that Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville filed a formal complaint against former Central Intelligence Agency director Michael Hayden for threatening his life in a social media post over the ongoing nominations fight between the lawmaker and the Pentagon. On Monday, in response to a post asking if Tuberville should be removed from the Senate Armed Services Committee over his eight-month blockade of military promotions, Hayden wrote, “how about the human race?”. Tuberville said his office has reported the incident to Capitol Police for investigation. Police officials have not yet publicly commented on the matter.
Former U.S. Soldier Charged with Trying to Give Classified Info to China
A former U.S. Army soldier has been charged with attempting to provide classified defense information to the Chinese security services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic — including some listed in a Microsoft Word document titled “Important Information to Share with Chinese Government”. Army Times reports that on Friday authorities arrested former Sgt. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 29, at San Francisco International Airport as he arrived from Hong Kong, where he had been living since March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice said. A federal grand jury in Seattle returned an indictment Wednesday charging him with retention and attempted delivery of national defense information.
Proposed Bill Will Sentence and Fine Federal Workers Who Disclose National Security Clearances
Federal workers who disclose their national security clearances could face a $1,000 fine and a year in prison under a proposal unveiled by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Friday. Military Times reports that, if passed, the measure could affect more than four million Americans, including numerous veterans and tens of thousands of Defense Department civilian employees. But the bill faces long odds of becoming law and is certain to face significant opposition from other members of Congress whose districts include large numbers of federal workers.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
NCMS 2023 Virtual Fall Conference Schedule
11/1/2023 – 11/2/2023
Virtual
https://ncms-seminar.org/index.php
National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) Meeting
11/15/2023
Virtual
National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) meetings serve as a forum to discuss policy issues in dispute and recommend changes to those policies as reflected in Executive Order 12829, as amended, its implementing directives, or the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). The meetings are open to the public.
https://www.archives.gov/isoo/oversight-groups/nisppac/committee.html
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 info@semsolutionsllc.com.