GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: OPM unveils technology to speed security clearance processing

• 50767
  

  I was denied a clearance for" just knowing" on friendly business terms 3 highly respected computer scientists who happen to be from Russia, two of whom live in the netherlands and one who lives in London. Each of these scientists are private sector with no relationship to the Russian Government.

  Just for that my 56 years of good citizenship, honorable Discharge from Coast Guard, 2 years in the Peace Corps and all my degrees and accomplishments were "criminalized" by OPM.

  It just shocks the conscience !!! that these kind of federal morons are authorized to do harm to their fellow citizens.

  The OPM appeal system is a "Star Chamber" where no case history is available and all information is funneled through one individual - Melinda Davis.

  Steven Hunziker Posted May 15, 2008 3:24 PM
• 50470
  

  Someone, Please, Please explaing to me, why it can possibly take (and still not completed) 16 months to do a five year update. I'll tell you why, because an agent asked me why I didnt have an address for my mother. Maybe its because she is listed as "DECEASED". And after 14 months they are just now checking my employment references. The system is broken.

  Clearance Holder Posted May 12, 2008 12:55 PM
• 39471
  

  The deception and conruption within OPM FISD is overwhelming. I am sorry to say that this comment and other comments on this page will not make any changes. They are killing our sons and daughters in harms way with there lies and failures.

  opm agent Posted December 11, 2007 2:05 PM
• 32994
  

  OPM background Investigations are a joke. For cases that are a legitimate security concern on the applicants part, they do not know how to deal with it. Cases where applicants are squeaky clean, they manfacture problems against the applicant.

  Cases are sometimes held open over ridiculous information. Example, applicants address 10 years ago. It takes a year before the case goes back to the investigator to ask the applicant the address that they probably can not remember in the first place.

  The computer systems Investigators have to use are highly unreliable and over 20 years old.

  john q. citizen Posted September 14, 2007 1:18 PM
• 32143
  

  All of you are very correct. OPM and OPM/FISD Directors and employees are unbelievable and they need to be stopped now, but who is going to do it?

  Retired FISD Posted September 4, 2007 4:21 PM
• 32062
  

  Both OPM and FISD Directors are people that not suppose to be there in the beginning. How do they get a job as director when they not qualify for the job. Who hired them?

  It is funny when I saw someone mention about Six Sigma. I doubt anyone in OPM or govn't workers know what is Six Sigma. They are too old and need to retired.

  One last comment, there are so many guy with security clearance that need a job because I saw them on the job fair at MD, VA and D.C area. So, what is the hold up?

  Ken Posted September 2, 2007 1:24 PM
• 31473
  

  This is a joke. The OPM and FISD Directors are the most unaware incompetent individuals we have in government, and the thought that your news department would print that crap is unbelievable. DIS was the best thing for DOD, OPM FISD should be closed down and all the Directors within OPM and FISD should be replaced. The GAO report in 2007 was correct but not complete and too soft. There is a rumor that a class action lawsuit against directors and employees of OPM FISD is about to hit the Federal Courts in September. And some corporations or venders are getting ready to sue also.

  John Public Posted August 23, 2007 2:56 PM
• 31470
  

  Electronicly sending closed investigations to the Adjudications facilities may be "hot new technology" to OPM but, this techonology was used by DSS starting back in 1998. The "powers that be" decided to turn off CCMS (DSS's background invesitgation computer system) because it was costing too much money to maintain. I wonder what was more cost effective?? paying to maintain CCMS or taking 5 years to upgrade OPM's computer system to catch up to what CCMS was able to accomplish almost 10 years ago?

  T. Smith Posted August 23, 2007 2:00 PM
• 31466
  

  OPM is NOT a security agency. It's name, Office of Personnel Management, says it all.They have inexperienced people reviewing reports of investigation. I had 45 yrs. of investigative experience and had reports returned after a year to re-interview a reference and ask the person to tell me what he meant by "average" as in average student. Just one of about 100 cases I could cite. I quit because of the ineptness of OPM. This is a great example of a bueaucratic system gone haywire. No leadership, no brains or common sense and abpve all, so DAMN PC(you could not say a person was a worshipping Muslim when his name was Jones and he scared his neighbors). Give me DSS anytime, warts and all, a far better agency until it was destroyed by VP Gore in his re-invention mode.

  Knocky Posted August 23, 2007 1:05 PM
• 31460
  

  This is a way for the OPM FISD Directors and office personnel to keep there jobs. PIPS and OPM codes and OPM report writing is over 26 years old and on DOS and just stupid. This is a smoke screen for their incompenece. When is this Government going to wakeup, all other agencies have been submitting reports electronically for years. This is more of OPM's lies and BS.

  Concerned Agent Posted August 23, 2007 12:17 PM
• 31404
  

  DB is right. I have waited 5 months to be cleared as a Secretary -- just a Secretary -- because what I file in the files might have someone's social security number on it. I can't imagine what they do for 5 months. Must be an easy job.

  mary Posted August 22, 2007 5:32 PM
• 31401
  

  I agree that most Secert and Confidential clearances should be processed be processed in a matter of days. We seldom saw cases at that level in the field, and then only if there was some "issue" (criminal history, drug or alcohol abuse, etc.). What I find curious is that all casses are now going to the Army for adjudication. DISCO used to deal with civilian cases, but maybe things have changed. Also, is the Army doing the adjucitation for all services? Further, as far as I know completed investigation have been transmitted electronically for some years, unless there were hard copy atachments.

  David Turner Posted August 22, 2007 4:46 PM
• 31386
  

  Let's face it, OPM isn't investigating a huge number of federal Secret Agents - the vast majority of investigations are for relatively low level bureaucrats involving simple background (criminal record) checks and financial reviews that can be obtained in a single day. They don't interview your neighbors. They don't require a polygraph. No one has ever explained why a Secret (or lower) clearance investigation takes more than a week. I'm convinced that requests spend 90% of the processing time sitting in an "In Box."

  DB Posted August 22, 2007 1:03 PM
• 31385
  

  Its a shame there isn't a planned tie-in that would share this info with TSA, especially with the roll-out of the new smart cards. It would be nice if the cards were "smart" enough to allow us to by-pass security screening areas when on gov travel. Are airport staff screened more thoroughly than we are (as a community?) Seems like it would be a great accomplishment for someone to take under the e-Gov initiative.

  marvin Posted August 22, 2007 12:59 PM
• 31384
  

  Yeah! Now we won't have new employees working for 3-4 weeks waiting for HR to see if their background is clean. Makes a lot of sense to me!

  Kim Posted August 22, 2007 12:57 PM
• 31382
  

  Reducing transmit time is a joke. I am convinced that most of the wait time involves sitting in an "In Box." A background investigation to buy a handgun can be executed while I wait at the sales counter. I can obtain approval for a half million dollar home loan in a few days. I understand the process for a Top Secret clearance (interviews, polygraph, etc.) will be a more extensive process. But for a mere Secret clearance or less, I have seen an average of 4 to 6 months in my DoD agency. There is no reason for a review to take more than a week. Lean/Six Sigma anyone?

  Dan B. Posted August 22, 2007 12:15 PM
• 31372
  

  How is this different from downloading schedule notices and case closing from PIPS?

  Teresa Heller Posted August 22, 2007 8:49 AM
• 31366
  

  Remarkable indeed. It's good to finally see action. But, 7-13 days of time savings? If you've been waiting a year for a clearance, what's another week or two? The OPM will need to think on a bigger scale to make a serious impact.

  Daniel T Posted August 22, 2007 8:06 AM
• 31354
  

  My greatest concern, and fear, is the repeat of mistakes that have been made in the past. For example, to be general here, is the granting of security clearances for those who should never have been approved, and the denial to those who were strong patriots and worthy of such clearances.

  Can we say Ames, or Hanson, or other unnamed individuals?

  The background investigations need to be extremely thorough and the addition of any hi-tech tool should be just that, an additional tool. We are in a critical period of time where we need to be more careful, not less careful.

  The future will be the judge of how well our government has handled security clearances and how well we have kept our sensitive information secure.

  After all, I would like to leave this world knowing that my grandchildren are safer than I was.

  Don Drennon Gala, Ph.D. Posted August 22, 2007 1:01 AM