Tuesday, April 15   10:05 AM    Register for this Session    Return to Full Agenda

Tuesday, April 15   10:05 AM

Register for this Session 

Clearing the Path: Insider Advice on Solving Security Clearance Challenges

Perry Russell-Hunter

Director, DOHA

Clearance roadblocks can stall critical work—what should FSOs be telling their people to prevent delays?

Security clearance challenges can delay or derail mission-critical work, but proactively guiding personnel through the process can prevent unnecessary setbacks. FSOs don’t just need to understand why clearances get denied or delayed—they need to know what to tell employees about self-reporting, financial concerns, foreign contacts, and appeals before these become clearance issues.

In this session, DOHA Director Perry Russell-Hunter will provide insider insights into the most common clearance challenges, trends in adjudications, and practical steps FSOs can take to ensure personnel understand how to protect their eligibility and avoid clearance delays.

Key Takeaways

What FSOs Need to Tell Their People Proactively:

  • Financial Issues & Debt Risks – How personnel can avoid financial red flags that jeopardize clearances and what FSOs should tell them before financial issues escalate.
  • Marijuana & Drug Use – What FSOs should be explaining about drug policies, changing state laws, and how past use vs. current use is evaluated.
  • Foreign Influence & Social Media – How FSOs should guide personnel on foreign contacts, social media activity, and travel disclosures to prevent clearance risks.
  • Self-Reporting vs. Discovery – What FSOs should be telling employees about self-reporting issues (e.g., financial hardship, foreign ties) and how DOHA views self-reporting vs. undisclosed concerns.
  • How Adjudicators View Clearance Decisions – What FSOs should explain to employees about how cases are evaluated, what common denial reasons are, and what happens if a clearance is challenged.

What FSOs Need to Know & Do:

  • Where FSOs Can Prevent Clearance Issues Before They Start – Identifying patterns that lead to clearance delays and denials.
  • Key Trends in Adjudications & Risk Areas for 2025 – What DOHA is prioritizing and what’s changing in the clearance landscape.
  • How FSOs Can Keep the Clearance Process Moving – Practical actions to minimize delays and ensure smooth adjudications.

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Compliance & Audit Readiness

Stakeholder Skills

Threats and National Security

Continuous Improvement