The Coming Storm…Security Clearance & Polygraph Shortages
This is an update to my original June 22, 2017 article regarding the state of polygraphs. Even with current changes in background investigations, the concern is how the growing lag for security professionals to get the clearance will most specifically impact cybersecurity. And, pretty well much of the federal government and the Intelligence Community (IC).
The proliferation and demand for both Counter-Intelligence and Full Scope Polygraphed professionals continues to grow. This includes the need for quicker and complete investigations of individuals supporting the federal government. US companies competing for federal contracts are in a constant state of shortage that not only impact their profits, but the need to protect US infrastructures and systems.
The concern grows that we are heading toward a proverbial ledge impacting not just cybersecurity. Thanks to Mr. Snowden and others like him that have been the impetus of this issue; an even graver demand to clear individuals that may put the country’s security at risk. Individuals such as this who “feel” that all knowledge, even if it protects the safety and security of this nation, should be shared wantonly with the New York Times or Washington Post. It has created the growing demands by the government to require the Day-1 readiness of contractors to meet this requirement; everyone is in a constant struggle to fill critical positions to include cybersecurity.
I was talking with a good friend of mine at a large defense-support contractor, and we shared the concerns that all we are recycling the same people across the Intelligence Community (IC) and federal law enforcement space. And, to make things “worse,” the federal government is further demanding immediate polygraphs and requisite security clearances before allowing them to work on the contract. Companies are struggling to meet this contract proposal requirement for fully cleared personnel.
The only agencies appearing best prepared are the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). They have direct control specifically over the polygraph process–they have benefited from their own organic capabilities.
This continues to be an explicit requirement with no mechanism afforded to create the future needed to hire the smart people we need to fill such critical vacancies–both with polys and clearances. Are we missing out on the Millennials, for example, who are less inclined already to seek work under the even more stringent confines of such requirements? Are we creating a crisis that is causing many companies to avoid such contracts at the potential detriment of our national security?
A Suggested Solution
- We need to turn to both the federal and contract space to raise the flag of this pending crisis.
- Immediately create mechanisms built into contractual overhead. This would allow for less-classified work being accomplished while not losing them to their employment frustrations.
- Track and identify our best and brightest to be brought further into the fold. Identify them now, get them sponsored, and begin getting them to work their SF-86s.
- Alert Congress. Create the laws and policies to put us on a better footing.
- Make this a priority for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). (The DNI seems the most likely to be the Executive Agent here; they bring the resources to bear and the focus to avoid impacts to the nation’s security).
The concern is that we will lose both young and seasoned professionals alike if we continue to not address this problem immediately. We desperately need to enhance the security of this great nation, and not become the victims of our own complacency.
We must act now.
Dr. Russo is currently the Senior Data Scientist with Cybersenetinel AI in Washington, DC. He is a former Senior Information Security Engineer within the Department of Defense’s (DOD) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. He has an extensive background in cybersecurity and is an expert in the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and DOD Instruction 8510, which implement RMF throughout the DOD and the federal government. He holds a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification and a CISSP in information security architecture (ISSAP). He has a 2017 Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) certification from the National Defense University, Washington, DC. Dr. Russo retired from the US Army Reserves in 2012 as a Senior Intelligence Officer.
