Introduction to Suitability Adjudications for the DoD SPeD
There are three main types of national security adjudications, suitability adjudications, and
adjudications in the DoD: Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 adjudications.
whether an individual is eligible to access classified information or
National security adjudications
determine perform sensitive duties that could result in an unacceptably
adverse effect on national security.
Suitability adjudications determine whether an individual is suitable for employment in the federal government
that individuals working in excepted service positions or as defense
fitness determinations ensure
contractors are suitable to hold those positions
who may be issued credentials for physical access to DoD-
controlled facilities or logical access to information systems such
HSPD-12 adjudications determine
as secure computers and networks. Note that in some cases,
individuals must be adjudicated for both national security and
suitability.
The requirements of the suitability all applicants for employment as well as all appointees and
program apply to employees already serving in covered positions that are subject
to investigation.
to defense contractors who need regular access to federally
Fitness determinations apply controlled facilities or information systems as well as excepted
service employees whose positions cannot be converted to the
competitive service.
the discretion of individual agencies and components, which are
within the DoD, fitness criteria are left
to strongly advised to follow the suitability criteria in their fitness
determinations.
Determining an individual's position designation, preinvestigation, investigation, adjudication, and
suitability for federal reinvestigation.
employment includes five main
elements:
A preinvestigation review, is then conducted based on the
applicant's employment documents and other preinvestigation
Applicant Suitability Review and
materials. If the review is favorable, the applicant completes the
Evaluation,
appropriate investigative forms, which DoD personnel also review
for potential suitability issues. If no issues are present, an
investigation is initiated.
, All individuals in public trust every five years.
positions are subject to periodic
reinvestigation
Congress granted the ultimate to the President in Title 5 of the United States Code. Sections 3301
authority for suitability and 7301 authorize the President to ascertain the fitness of
applicants for federal employment.
• Has jurisdiction over appointments to competitive service
• Enforces civil service rules
OPM Authority
• Regulates examinations for federal employment
• Evaluates the effectiveness
Delegates to the heads of agencies the authority for making
Agency Authority
suitability determinations and taking suitability actions
A suitability case may set a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or to the federal court system.
precedent when it is appealed
beyond the initial decision to
the full board of the
Standards of evidence
These decisions fall into
Credibility of witness
different categories, addressing
testimony Authority of
different aspects of the
MSPB
suitability process.
Falsification
to ensure all applicants, appointees, and employees of the
The purpose of suitability federal government demonstrate high standards of conduct, are of
adjudications is good character and reputation, are trustworthy, and are suitable to
perform the duties of the position.
an investigator gathers information on the subject's background to
During the investigation,
meet the investigative requirements of the position.
DoD personnel evaluate the position's levels of risk and sensitivity
During the position designation,
to determine what type of investigation is required.
Reinvestigation occurs as needed changes in a position's risk or sensitivity, reemployment, or
based on discovery of new information
an adjudicator applies suitability criteria to the subject's
During the adjudication,
investigation to make a suitability determination.
Title 5 CFR Part 731 outlines OPM regulations for suitability investigations and adjudications
suitability applies to all applicants, appointees, and employees of the federal competitive service
Established by Executive Order fair treatment of all federal employees and prevent costly
13467, alignment and duplication of effort across agencies
reciprocity of
the consistent standards and methods that are employed across all
Alignment refers to federal agencies to ensure that all federal employees receive
equal treatment regardless of which agency conducts the
adjudication.
The typical turnaround time for a approximately 80 days from the time of a tentative offer of employment.
suitability determination is
There are three main types of national security adjudications, suitability adjudications, and
adjudications in the DoD: Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 adjudications.
whether an individual is eligible to access classified information or
National security adjudications
determine perform sensitive duties that could result in an unacceptably
adverse effect on national security.
Suitability adjudications determine whether an individual is suitable for employment in the federal government
that individuals working in excepted service positions or as defense
fitness determinations ensure
contractors are suitable to hold those positions
who may be issued credentials for physical access to DoD-
controlled facilities or logical access to information systems such
HSPD-12 adjudications determine
as secure computers and networks. Note that in some cases,
individuals must be adjudicated for both national security and
suitability.
The requirements of the suitability all applicants for employment as well as all appointees and
program apply to employees already serving in covered positions that are subject
to investigation.
to defense contractors who need regular access to federally
Fitness determinations apply controlled facilities or information systems as well as excepted
service employees whose positions cannot be converted to the
competitive service.
the discretion of individual agencies and components, which are
within the DoD, fitness criteria are left
to strongly advised to follow the suitability criteria in their fitness
determinations.
Determining an individual's position designation, preinvestigation, investigation, adjudication, and
suitability for federal reinvestigation.
employment includes five main
elements:
A preinvestigation review, is then conducted based on the
applicant's employment documents and other preinvestigation
Applicant Suitability Review and
materials. If the review is favorable, the applicant completes the
Evaluation,
appropriate investigative forms, which DoD personnel also review
for potential suitability issues. If no issues are present, an
investigation is initiated.
, All individuals in public trust every five years.
positions are subject to periodic
reinvestigation
Congress granted the ultimate to the President in Title 5 of the United States Code. Sections 3301
authority for suitability and 7301 authorize the President to ascertain the fitness of
applicants for federal employment.
• Has jurisdiction over appointments to competitive service
• Enforces civil service rules
OPM Authority
• Regulates examinations for federal employment
• Evaluates the effectiveness
Delegates to the heads of agencies the authority for making
Agency Authority
suitability determinations and taking suitability actions
A suitability case may set a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or to the federal court system.
precedent when it is appealed
beyond the initial decision to
the full board of the
Standards of evidence
These decisions fall into
Credibility of witness
different categories, addressing
testimony Authority of
different aspects of the
MSPB
suitability process.
Falsification
to ensure all applicants, appointees, and employees of the
The purpose of suitability federal government demonstrate high standards of conduct, are of
adjudications is good character and reputation, are trustworthy, and are suitable to
perform the duties of the position.
an investigator gathers information on the subject's background to
During the investigation,
meet the investigative requirements of the position.
DoD personnel evaluate the position's levels of risk and sensitivity
During the position designation,
to determine what type of investigation is required.
Reinvestigation occurs as needed changes in a position's risk or sensitivity, reemployment, or
based on discovery of new information
an adjudicator applies suitability criteria to the subject's
During the adjudication,
investigation to make a suitability determination.
Title 5 CFR Part 731 outlines OPM regulations for suitability investigations and adjudications
suitability applies to all applicants, appointees, and employees of the federal competitive service
Established by Executive Order fair treatment of all federal employees and prevent costly
13467, alignment and duplication of effort across agencies
reciprocity of
the consistent standards and methods that are employed across all
Alignment refers to federal agencies to ensure that all federal employees receive
equal treatment regardless of which agency conducts the
adjudication.
The typical turnaround time for a approximately 80 days from the time of a tentative offer of employment.
suitability determination is
