Improving Supervisor and Coworker Reporting of Information of Security Concern

Abstract : PERSEREC examined government requirements that cleared supervisors and employees report to security managers behavior they observe among subordinates and coworkers that they believe to be security-relevant. Despite formal policies, very few reports are made. Authors reviewed research literature and discussed the topic with personnel security and management personnel in 20 government agencies and with supervisors and coworkers in focus groups. While supervisors and employees are not averse to reporting genuine security infractions, they rarely report other behaviors. They are confused about precisely what to report and anguish over reporting gray-area behaviors they do not consider to be necessarily connected to security. The study recommends that DoD Directive 5200.2-R be modified to include supervisor and coworker reporting as a priority and to protect the confidentiality of people who report, if requested. It recommends that PERSEREC, with the help of counterintelligence and security personnel, develop a list of behaviors that pose a palpable threat to national security and must be reported, if observed. The list will contain behavioral examples to clarify what is considered egregious and critical to national security. It is also recommended that the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence) (ASD C3I) issue a memorandum advising certain changes be made in the government's philosophy, i.e., that the personnel security community be more proactive in ensuring that personal problems get addressed before they become security problems. The memorandum should also emphasize enhanced training, including developing clear guidance as to what must be reported and making the personnel security system more accessible and transparent to employees.