The Security Office of the Research Foundation ensures that the Department of Defense Facility Clearance, granted to The Texas A&M University System, is in compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM, DoD 5220.22-M). The DoD Facility Security Officer (FSO) for The Texas A&M University System is Diane Hassel, hasseld@rf-mail.tamu.edu. We are located at 400 Harvey Mitchell Parkway South, Suite 100, College Station Texas 77845. Our campus mail stop is 3578.

The Security Office also ensures that guidance from other federal agencies regarding security requirements are met - Defense Industry Security Clearance Office (DISCO) under the Defense Security Service (DSS), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Designated Approving Authority (ODAA) and other offices requiring FSO certification.

The Research Foundation Security Office assists individuals with obtaining or maintaining their individual clearances and coordinates requirements needed for access at other facilities. Miscellaneous requests by Security Offices or Badge Offices at contract facilities are handled through the Research Foundation Security Office. JPAS (Joint Personnel Adjudication System) is used to facilitate these tasks. Classified document control and security awareness briefings are also provided.

Personnel Security Clearance

The Assistant FSO, Denise Mackan will assist individuals with the process of submitting an application for a security clearance. The need for all clearances must be supported by a contract with a DD Form 254 (DoD Contract Security Classification Specification).

An application is needed for:

• New security clearance requests.
• Previously held clearances with an investigation over 5 years old for Top Secret, 10 years old for Secret or 5 years old for Confidential.
• Current investigation with no access to classified information over 24 months.

The following items must be received in order to process a request for a Personnel Security Clearance (PCL).

• Proof of U.S. citizenship - a birth certificate or passport is acceptable.
• Fully executed copy of the Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP)*. This is an electronic version of the Standard Form 86. A copy of the SF86 is available at www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF86.pdf to assist applicants in compiling the background data necessary to complete the e-QIP. Through the DoD database JPAS, a questionnaire will be initiated for the applicant to complete. More information about this application can be found at the Office of Personnel Management website www.opm.gov/e-QIP.
• A set of fingerprints must be submitted with the application. The Security Office will provide the required form to be used to take the fingerprints. Local law enforcement agencies offer fingerprint services during weekdays and charge a fee for this service.

* To obtain access to the electronic questionnaire, e-QIP, contact Denise Mackan, dmackan@rf-mail.tamu.edu to request that an investigation be initiated.

Previously Held Security Clearance or Current PCL

Contact the Security Office if you have held a personal security clearance in the past. Previous eligibility status can be reviewed. The following conditions must be met for a previously held security clearance to be considered for reciprocity with The Texas A&M University System:

• Not more than 24 months has lapsed since last access to classified information.
• There is no known adverse information.
• The most recent investigation occurred within the past five years for a Top Secret Clearance or ten years for a Secret Clearance.
• The new clearance being sought is at the same or lower level than the previously held clearance.

Periodic Reinvestigation

Periodic reinvestigations are required to maintain current investigations within the past 5 years for Top Secret, 10 years for Secret for individuals with access to classified information. The Security Office monitors investigations for cleared individuals in The Texas A&M University System Facility. Individuals will be notified when a periodic reinvestigation is due and assist with the process to submit an application.

• An electronic SF 86 is required through the e-QIP system as with an initial application.
• Fingerprints are not required for a periodic reinvestigation.

Briefings

The Security Office is required to provide all cleared employees with security education and awareness refresher briefings. Cleared employees will be contacted when a briefing is required. The Security Office maintains records of completed briefings for all cleared employees.

Employees' Guide to Security Responsibilities , an interactive security guide, can be accessed from the Research Foundation website. This guide offers instruction to cleared individuals on the responsibilities of protecting classified information and threat awareness.

Reporting Requirements

Individuals that have been granted a PCL by the U.S. Government are required to report the following issues to your security office for investigation, resolution and reporting to the appropriate government agency.

Suspicious Contacts by an individual, regardless of nationality, to obtain illegal or unauthorized access to classified information or to compromise a cleared employee should be reported to the Security Office. Other suspicious contacts include, contacts by cleared employees with known or suspected intelligence officers from any country, or any contact which suggests the employee concerned may be the target of an attempted exploitation by the intelligence services of another country.

Representative of a Foreign Interest must be reported when a cleared individual becomes a representative of or consultant to any foreign entity, including a government, a government agency, a commercial business, or a person.

Security Violations or Vulnerabilities must be reported to the Security Office. Any suspected security violation or vulnerability of which you become aware, independent of who is responsible or at fault for the situation. Security violations or vulnerabilities include:

• The careless or unintentional failure to comply with security requirements for safeguarding classified information
• The intentional disregard of security requirements
• Any failure to comply with security requirements, regardless of intent, that has resulted in the loss, compromise or suspected compromise of classified information
• The unauthorized receipt of classified material
• Significant vulnerabilities discovered in equipment or systems designed to protect classified information

Adverse information is any information that adversely reflects on the integrity or character of a cleared employee, which suggests that his/her ability to safeguard classified information may be impaired, or that his/her access to classified information clearly may not be in the interests of national security. You must report the following types of information about yourself or other cleared employees:

• Arrests or convictions for criminal offenses including drunk driving
• Financial difficulties, including bankruptcy, excessive indebtedness, and wage garnishments
• Bizarre or notorious behavior
• Alcoholism, use of illegal drugs or abuse of legal drugs
• Emotional or psychological problems requiring treatment or hospitalization
• Affluence (wealth, acquisitions, investments) beyond known sources of income

Changes in personal status should be reported. Items required to be reported are:

• A change in name
• A change in citizenship
• When access to classified information is no longer required due to a change in job assignment
• For collateral clearances above Secret or for SCI access, a change in marital status must be reported to the Security Office

Espionage, Sabotage, Subversive activities should be reported immediately to the Security Office. Report any situation related to actual, probable, or possible espionage, sabotage, or subversive activities directed at the United States.

A Reporting Briefing is provided to individuals and should be reviewed periodically.

The Defense Hotline is maintained by DoD to provide an unconstrained avenue for employees to report, without fear of reprisal, known or suspected instances of serious security irregularities concerning government contracts, programs or projects. It is recommended that the hotline number be used only when an employee feels that reporting a matter to the Security Office would not be prudent. The Defense Hotline numbers are (800) 424-9098 or hotline@dodig.osd.mil. In most instances, however, reports of suspected incidents of espionage/sabotage or serious security violations should be made to the Security Office .