Accession Number:

ADA247331

Title:

Impact of Altering the Delinquent Debt Threshold Used for Background Investigation Expansion on the Denial Rate of Security Clearances

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Hill, Henry J.

Report Date:

1991-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

81.0

Abstract:

The purpose of this thesis was to conduct an analysis of cases of requests for Top Secret security clearances from applicants whose backgrounds showed some derogatory financial information, to determine the impact of the delinquent debt threshold used to expand personnel security investigations on final clearance decisions. To conduct the analysis, a sample of completed cases meeting the Defense Investigative Services DIS delinquent debt criteria for investigation expansion 500 or more outstanding for 120 days was selected. The total amount of delinquent debt for each case was recorded and classified in one of three debt categories, under 1000, 1000 to 2000, and over 2000. In order to determine final clearance decisions, the sample data were merged with the Defense Central Investigations DCII data base. This provided a breakdown by clearance denials and approvals at the various delinquent debt categories. The analysis suggests that delinquent debt levels play less of a role in determining final clearance outcomes than was originally anticipated it also provide som empirical support for raising the delinquent debt threshold above the current 500 threshold amount.

Descriptors:

• *DATA BASES
• DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• IMPACT
• SECURITY
• RATES
• THESES
• BACKGROUND
• PERSONNEL
• EXPANSION
• AREA DENIAL
• FINANCE
• CLEARANCES
• DELINQUENCY

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE