About CAD/CAM Security Cleared Personnel

1. WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: An industrial personnel security clearance, referred to as a "PCL", is an administrative determination that an industrial employee is eligible for access to classified information. This determination is based on investigation and review of available personal data and a finding that access is clearly consistent with national interests.

2. WHO ISSUES THE PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: The Department of Defense issues the personnel security clearances for U.S. citizen employees of a contractor who require access to classified information. Clearances may be at the TOP SECRET, SECRET, or CONFIDENTIAL level. Requests for clearances are sent to the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) which issues clearances for industry personnel on behalf of the DoD and User Agencies. Personnel Security Clearances must be kept to an absolute minimum based on contractual needs.

3. WHO MAY HAVE ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION?
A: Only those persons who have a bona fide need-to-know and who possess a personnel security clearance at the same or higher level as the classified information to be disclosed may have access to classified information.

4. WHEN MAY AN INDIVIDUAL BE PROCESSED FOR A PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: An individual may be processed for a personnel security clearance when employed by a cleared contractor in a job requiring access to classified information. As an exception, a candidate for employment may be processed for a personnel security clearance provided a written commitment for employment has been made by the contractor, and the candidate has accepted the offer in writing. The commitment for employment will indicate that employment shall commence within 30 days of the granting of eligibility for a PCL.

5. ARE NON-U.S. CITIZENS ELIGIBLE FOR A PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: No. However, under rare circumstances, a non-U.S. citizen may be issued a Limited Access Authorization for access to classified information. Specific criteria and limitations are provided in the NISPOM. You may also contact your IS Rep for additional information.

6. MAY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN GRANTED A SECURITY CLEARANCE BE AUTHORIZED ACCESS TO ANY AND ALL CLASSIFIED INFORMATION?
A: No. The individual must have both the appropriate level of personnel security clearance and a need-to-know for the classified information.

7. DO CONTRACTORS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT, DENY, OR REVOKE PERSONNEL CLEARANCES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES?
A: No. This authority is reserved by the Government.

8. HOW LONG DOES A PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE REMAIN IN EFFECT?
A: Generally speaking, a personnel security clearance remains in effect as long as the individual remains continuously employed by the cleared contractor and can reasonably be expected to require access to classified information. To preclude excessive clearances, the Facility Security Officer should continually review the number of employees with the personnel security clearances and reduce the number of clearances whenever possible.

9. WHO MAY APPLY FOR A SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: Individuals cannot apply for a personnel security clearance application on their own. Rather, the company determines whether an employee will require access to classified information in performance of tasks or services related to the fulfillment of a classified contract. Once the company makes this determination, the individual may be processed for a security clearance.

10. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A SECURITY CLEARANCE?
A: The purpose of a security clearance is to determine whether a person is able and willing to safeguard classified national security information, based onhis or herloyalty, character, trustworthiness, and reliability.

11. WHO DECIDES WHAT LEVEL OF CLEARANCE A PERSON RECEIVES?
A: The company determines the positions that require a security clearance, as well as the level required, based upon the duties and responsibilities of each position. This determination is based on contractual needs and requirements.

12. WHAT KIND OF INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION?
A: The kind, or type, of investigation conducted depends on the access level that the individual is required to have to perform his or her official duties. For access to CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET information, a National Agency Check with Local Agency Checks and Credit Check (NACLC) is completed. For access to TOP SECRET or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) information, a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) is required.

13. HOW MANY TYPES OR LEVELS OF SECURITY CLEARANCE ARE THERE?
A: There are three levels of security clearance, with the highest level being TOP SECRET. SECRET is the next level of clearanceand CONFIDENTIAL is the lowest level. In addition, some classified information has extra protection measures applied such as SCI and Special Access Programs (SAP). Special approval must be given to have access to this information. "For Official Use Only" is not a security classification. It is used to protect information covered under the Privacy Act and other sensitive data.

14. WHAT WORK DOES EACH CLEARANCE ALLOW A PERSON TO DO?
A: A clearance allows a person filling a specific position to have access to classified national security information up to and including the level of clearance that they hold, so long as the person has a need to know for the information to perform his or her duties.