Volume 1, Issue 6
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
Pentagon Rewrites Space Classification Policy
An article from C4ISRNET reveals that the Pentagon updated its classification policy for space programs to reduce the information-sharing restrictions that make it hard for the Space Force to collaborate with allies, industry partners and other agencies. The policy is itself classified, according to John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy. While he declined to talk at length about the document, he told reporters the rewrite is more focused on eliminating out-of-date policies around what information can be shared about certain programs than it is on lifting the veil on highly secretive programs.
Intelligence Agencies Need to Improve Accessibility for Disabilities
A new report from the US Government Accountability Office has found that federal agencies using special facilities handling classified materials have not consistently addressed how to make them more accessible for employees with disabilities. GAO officials said they found that Office of the Director of National Intelligence — which sets standards for managing and constructing SCIFs — had not established guidance for “minimum specifications for common accessibility concerns and addressing accessibility in inspections,” leading to inconsistent approaches to making SCIFs more accessible. This article from GovExec explores more of the accessibility concerns for ten agencies.
Elon Musk’s Security Clearance Under Review
Elon Musk’s links to the US government are under scrutiny following allegations of drug use. It comes following a The Wall Street Journal report that detailed concerns of some executives and board members at Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, regarding the billionaire’s alleged use of illegal drugs — including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and mushrooms. The Independent reports that Musk’s security clearance was also previously placed under review in 2018 following an appearance on a podcast with Joe Rogan in which he smoked cannabis. “After that one puff with Rogan, I agreed, at NASA’s request, to do 3 years of random drug testing,” Musk said on X in response to the recent report. “Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol.” This issue highlights vetting process decisions where not all cases may be of equal importance, but the process is fair and geared toward national security interests.
China’s Invests Billions in Quantum R&D
A report by Breaking Defense states that China leads in three of four aspects of quantum science. By another measure, Mitchell Institute expert Heather Penney warned in a recent report, “China now holds twice as many quantum patents as the United States,” although not all patents are anywhere near equal. She states that the Chinese government’s investments in quantum may amount to more than triple the US’s, however she admits there are conflicting reports coming out of China. RAND quantum race expert, Edward Parker states that “The Chinese are taking an all of the above approach; there’s nothing in quantum they have ruled out,” Parker told Breaking Defense. “The US approach is also quite diversified … but the US has ruled out a few specific technologies which the Chinese are leaning very heavily into, namely quantum key distribution and quantum radar.” To learn more about quantum science, be sure to continue reading on Breaking Defense.
DCSA Issues Industry Security Letter on Use of Commercial Cloud Services
Executive Gov reports that the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)has released an industry security letter, or ISL, clarifying the process for verifying government contracting activity authorization for the use of commercial cloud services (CCS) by a contractor in performing work on a classified contract as required by DFARS, or the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The ISL also includes information on the revision made to instructions for DD Form 254 concerning contract security classification specification, shares DCSA.
Navy Chief Charged with Espionage
According to Navy Times, Chief Fire Controlman (AEGIS) Bryce Steven Pedicini is being charged with espionage for allegedly passing classified information to a foreign government and, if convicted, could face a severe sentence. While the maximum sentence for a specification of espionage is death, Lauren Hanzel, a former Navy attorney now in private practice, noted that will not apply in this case as Pedicini was not charged with espionage as a capital offense. But the chief faces eight specifications of espionage, according to his charge sheet. “For each of these espionage charges, and for the attempted espionage, the maximum sentence is confinement for life, with or without the possibility of parole, a dishonorable discharge, and total forfeiture of pay and allowances,” she said.
Psychedelic MDMA Will be Reviewed as Possible PTSD Drug
Midomafetamine, or MDMA, a form of molly or ecstasy that has increasingly been coupled with patient therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, was approved recently for a fast-track review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, says Military Times. The designation means the FDA will review the drug on a faster timeline — six months instead of 10 and “direct overall attention and resources” to the study of drugs that, if approved, would allow for “improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions,” according to the FDA’s website. The FDA has a target date of Aug. 11 to conclude its evaluation of MDMA-assisted therapy. While this new drug could improve the lives of military veterans, it is unclear how this could affect those with security clearances if it were to be approved for medicinal use.
New Personnel Vetting Questionnaire Will Phase Out the Standard Form-86
The Standard Form-86, a long-used questionnaire for government positions requiring security clearance, is set to be phased out after the White House Office of Management and Budget approved a new form replacing the SF-86 and several other legacy forms. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is now working on plans to integrate the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire (PVQ) into the new “eApp” web portal for background investigation applications. The effort is part of DCSA’s development of the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS). For more information, be sure to check out this article from Federal News Network.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Accused of More than 16 Allegations of Domestic Abuse & Assault
An Army lieutenant colonel assigned to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was formally charged last week with 16 counts of domestic abuse and other violations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a charge sheet obtained by Military.com revealed. Lt. Col. Ashley R. Ellis allegedly beat, harassed, and emotionally abused his wife, doing so on two separate occasions in front of an unnamed child, over a nine-month period between late 2022 and mid-2023.
Files Show Reservist Responsible for Deadliest Shooting in Maine had Glowing Reviews
An Army reservist responsible for the deadliest shooting in Maine history received a glowing review from his superiors even as some of his family members were growing increasingly worried about his mental health. The annual evaluation from April 2023 indicated Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin, was “a consummate professional” who “excelled as a squad leader” and whose mentoring of troops was “among the best,” according to the documents released under an open records request reports Army Times. Six months later, Card killed 18 people in a mass shooting before killing himself. Card’s last evaluation was dated shortly before his ex-wife and son reported to police in May that he had become angry and paranoid in the preceding months and had falsely accused his son of saying things behind his back.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
DCSA Online Seminars:
-Online Behavior in Threat Assessment
March 7, 2024 (virtual)
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ET
Register for Online Behavior in Threat Assessment
-The Espionage Investigation of Ana Belen Montes
March 21, 2024 (virtual)
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET
Register for The Espionage Investigation of Ana Belen Montes
-Overview of SPēD Certifications
March 27, 2024 (virtual)
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm ET
Register for Overview of SPēD Certifications
The 8th Annual Insider Threat Summit
3/27/2024-3/28/2024
Monterey Marriott | Monterey, CA
The focus of ITS is to discuss personnel security issues including cyber security challenges and capabilities, continuous evaluation of privileged identities, and ethical physical security considerations. A heightened awareness of insider threats from numerous newsworthy attacks and unauthorized leaks has brought us together for one main purpose: To better understand security challenges in order to better defend against insider threats.
https://www.insiderthreatsummit.com
PSC Annual Conference
4/28/2024 – 4/30/2024
The Greenbrier Resort | White Sulphur Springs, WV
Join government and industry leaders to address current issues facing the government professional and technology services industry. Join us and gain actionable insights over three days of networking and informational sessions.
NSI IMPACT ‘24
4/29/2024 – 5/1/2024
Westfields Marriott | Chantilly, VA
IMPACT’s interdisciplinary program energizes and equips you to stay in command of NISPOM compliance policies, issues, systems, and processes; develop a professional understanding of today’s evolving security threats and risks; optimize security programs for efficiency and cost-effectiveness; and create positive engagement and productive relationships with your internal and external stakeholders.
https://www.nsi.org/impact-home
2024 Spring Joint AIA/NDIA Industrial Security Committee Meeting
5/6/2024 – 5/8/2024
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront | Jacksonville, FL
This bi-annual conference brings together executive-level security leadership (e.g. Chief Security Officers) and policymakers across the federal agencies and U.S. industry to address major government security topics warranting your attendance. Closed to media.
https://www.ndia.org/events/2024/5/6/2024-spring-isc
NCMS 60th Annual Training Seminar
6/11/2024 – 6/13/2024
Gaylord Opryland | Nashville, TN
This Annual Training Seminar is NCMS’ marquee event, where we bring together the knowledge and talents of our government partners, industry speakers, security vendors, the NCMS Board of Directors, and our sponsors and exhibitors to provide three days of security education focused on your security program. It is our genuine desire that at the end of each day you will have learned something new that enhances your security program, networked with fellow security professionals, received beneficial professional development, and visited the great security vendors we have assembled.
https://ncms-seminar.org/index.php
Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2024
9/23/2024 –9/25/2024
Orange County Convention Center | Orlando, FL
Security threats are evolving and becoming more complex. Elevate your knowledge and technical capabilities at GSX to rise against this shifting landscape. Access expert-led education covering critical physical and cybersecurity topics. Discover state-of-the-art innovations, products, and trends transforming security. Find inspiration in keynotes from next-level thought leaders and world-class speakers. Go where the entire global security community converges to connect, collaborate, and meet tomorrow’s challenges head on.
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.