Assessment of Position Factors that Increase Vulnerability to Espionage

Abstract : Reducing the likelihood of espionage is a primary objective of personnel security programs in the intelligence community and Department of Defense (DoD). While these programs also help reduce the likelihood of inadvertent compromise, the significant failures usually occur when a cleared individual deliberately provides valuable classified or sensitive information to an adversary or competitor. Personnel security programs have traditionally viewed likelihood of espionage from the perspective that individuals with certain characteristics are more likely to commit espionage. Examination of existing personnel security regulations indicates that many personal characteristics have been identified as being of personnel security concern. Examples of such characteristics include alcohol abuse, drug abuse, emotional/mental disorders, and financial irresponsibility. For each characteristic, detailed criteria have been developed to specify what constitutes unacceptable levels of risk. Screening out individuals who meet the criteria on a given characteristic or characterisitics enhances personnel security. (MM)