Security Executive Blog

I've recently received many emails from people who are curious about security clearances and working for foreign owned companies. Though the volume of those questions have increased, I guess the topic is no longer surprising in content as it could have been many years ago. Many years ago, we might automatically assume that working for a foreign owned company would be indicative of highly questionable practices, but maybe not any longer.  Things have changed. More foreign owned companies are opening doors in the U.S. Internet opportunities open doors to employment. Working for foreign companies provides new opportunities regardless of boarders such as: investment, teleworking, and creative content services that allow artists to bid on customer jobs have made this more of a possibility.  But the questions have been pretty vague and hard to answer.  Am I allowed to work for a foreign company if I have a security clearance? Will I be able to get...

  Cleared Defense Contractors use classified information during performance of contracts. The Department of Defense makes the rules and governs how the classified contractors protect classified material. The Federal Government has published a policy appropriately titled: The National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual ( NISPOM ). This page turner is sponsored by the Presidential Executive Order (E0)12829 for the protection of information classified under E.O. 12958, As Amended. Having poured over both publications and the updates, I can confidently assure you that they take this business very seriously.     When specific work declares performance objectives on classified efforts, provisions of the applicable DD Form 254 and Security Classification Guide (SCG) shall govern. Both the DD 254 and SCG spell out what specific work a contractor can and cannot perform, what exactly is classified and how to protect it. Both of these document...

Putting first things first. That has been a motto for many after reading books such as Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or Reverend Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. Those and several similar motivational publications stress that everyone has the same amount of time in a day. What we do during that time helps us either make or goals or fail before we even get started.    As leaders, FSOs can help cleared defense contractor employees understand how to create incredible security programs. Focusing on training, interaction with other cleared employees, self-improvement and institutional education should be part of professional development. FSOs and managers who write evaluations for direct reports have an excellent opportunity to help them establish goals to become better at their jobs, more impactful in their careers and hopefully, groomed to become FSO’s themselves. Challenging employees and team members to achieve personal and professional goals b...