Volume 1, Issue 7
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
Edward Lane Named DCSA Program Executive Officer
Edward Lane, an acquisition executive within the federal government and private sector, officially assumed the role of program executive officer at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency on April 22. ExecutiveGov reports that he will manage multiple portfolios of information technology systems at DCSA supporting federal and defense services, including the National Background Investigation Services, DITMAC System of Systems and the National Industrial Security System.
Jon Rosenwasser Named Intelligence Community CFO
Jon Rosenwasser, former budget and policy director at the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to serve as chief financial officer. GovCon Wire reports that Rosenwasser, as the new intelligence community CFO, will be responsible for driving initiatives across IC to uphold the DNI’s role in developing, determining, and presenting the National Intelligence Program budget to the president for approval. Rosenwasser previously served on the National Intelligence Council and in senior strategy roles during his time at the ODNI from 2006 to 2013; he is currently an adjunct professor of the practice at Duke University‘s Terry Sanford School of Public Policy and holds regular guest lectures at several universities.
DCSA Combines 2 Personnel Vetting Mission Areas to Form Adjudication & Vetting Services
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) has launched Adjudication and Vetting Services as a new organization formed through the merger of Consolidated Adjudication Services and Vetting Risk Operations — two key mission areas within DCSA’s personnel vetting enterprise. Mark Livingston, assistant director of personnel security at DCSA, is overseeing the merger, which seeks to align DCSA functions with Trusted Workforce 2.0 and better use limited resources and personnel, reports ExecutiveGov. DCSA is implementing the merger through a phased approach and the foundational phase will include integrating critical operations, improving collaborative knowledge sharing, eliminating redundancies and aligning functions with policies.
DIU Developing Enhanced Credibility Assessment Tool
The Potomac Officers Club reports that the Defense Innovation Unit, in partnership with other United States Department of Defense stakeholders, is developing a new credibility assessment technology called Polygraph+. The DIU previously selected Presage and Altec to develop prototypes of the enhanced polygraph tool. Presage is developing the tool using standard consumer-grade cameras for medical assessment, while Altec is using its decades-long experience creating research and clinical technologies designed to monitor biosignals. The universities participating in the project will evaluate the prototypes, expected to be completed over the next two years, to ensure the tools comply with health care industry standards and the DOD’s ethical principles for artificial intelligence and standards for accreditation and fielding.
Trial Begins for Navy Chief Facing Multiple Espionage Charges
The court-martial trial of a US Navy chief charged with passing classified information to a foreign contact began in April. Chief Fire Controlman (Aegis) Bryce Steven Pedicini has elected for a judge-alone trial, with no military jury. He faces eight espionage charge specifications for alleged crimes that occurred between November 2022 and May. Navy Times reports that he is accused of delivering classified material over seven times and is the first sailor to be charged with espionage in at least the past five years.
Being Honest About Drug Use While Obtaining a Security Clearance
In a commentary from GovExec, we learn that honesty should always be practiced with security clearances, but honesty does not guarantee securing a clearance. In 2023, security clearance denials based on the drug use adjudicative guideline increased by 36% – by far the largest uptick across any guideline as reported by the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals. A 2021 memorandum from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence stated marijuana use itself would not be disqualifying and would be evaluated on the circumstances and future intent. That’s left some applicants assuming that simply vowing to abstain in the future will be enough to mitigate past drug use. But many agencies consider the frequency of use and the number of drugs used – and all the vows and negative drug tests won’t generate a favorable determination.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
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.