Wait...I'm aware that this was a data breach. Just a reminder to those in public service that their privacy may not be what they think it is. As an aside (and the reason I know this) is that we had to provide certain clearance investigation details to the USAF to participate in one of their exercises. The only way to do this was to FOIA the investigations of the entire squadron, then submit that to the USAF. Talk about a backward way of doing business. On the plus side, I got to know what all my neighbors thought of me.
This pretty much applies to any interaction with the organization.
Having processed a fair amount of FOIA requests in a previous job, I personally think the entire system has spiraled out of control. As with all things, the challenge is to find the appropriate balance between safeguarding information that needs protection, while making our government institutions more responsive to legitimate interests of its citizens within our construct of a free society. The idea that Joe Schmoe can FOIA the results of my background investigation troubles me on many levels. Having said that, I am a public official who is ultimately accountable to the people I serve. So, as long as that information relevant to my professional service doesn't present a harm to national security or my personal/private welfare, maybe I should consider the value of its release to the public as necessary to the trust of the American people in their military professionals. I'm not sure where that line is, but it's not black and white in my mind.
No, I haven't. And I was surprised because I've participated in super secret squirrel stuff that required special in briefings and paperwork, but no one ever asked me to produce a hard copy of my clearance investigation.
It seems like reasonable approach would be a summary of the findings and whether you are cleared/not cleared is reasonable, but your PII such as SS#, birthday, and places of residence should be redacted. So that's probably NOT what they do. I understand we're public officials but that doesn't entitle John Q. Public to obtain enough personal data to easily steal my identity.
A point we haven't reached yet. I've seen similar issues to what Brett describes. It seems to be AF stan. Of course, looking at the history of the last 50 years, we can pretty much guarantee that if you do the opposite of whatever the AF is willing to go to the mat for, it's probably the right answer in general.
You know, I'm really interested in seeing some transperency added to the drone program, the GTMO tribunals, and Area-51, because transparency and responsiveness...
Am I to presume you're in a position to determine that the release of SF-86 information is NOT a national security issue, or relevant to your personal/private welfare? And not just for you, but everyone other individual whose info has been compromised?
I get the point you're trying to make. Let me know when this becomes an issue that JQP cares about. Until this issue (and the many like it) get the same level of public spotlight like sexual assault, suicide, and domestic violence it will continue to languish in the media backwater; something that matters to us, and is wholly abscent from the mainstream consciousness. I'm NOT comparing the harm done to a rape victim to that done to someone whose PII is compromised, so please don't anyone start that food fight. I'm saying that until this matter gets the same level of attention that Senator Gillibrand et al are giving sexaual assault don't expect much to change. Agree or disagree with her ideas and approaches, she helped to bring the topic into the public forum where changes have been made, and more may be yet to come.
