Security Clearance Specialist

MERICHA N GRIFFIN

**** **** ****** #**, ***********, MD, 20784 C: 240-***-**** E: *********@*****.***

SUMMARY

Seasoned, innovative, and success-driven professional with broad-based experience in all facets of personnel and facility security management; complemented with solid adjudication background. Proven ability to gather information and apply a lessons-learned approach for agency reporting and recommendations.

Dependable, flexible, and self-motivated in high paced environments; known for unparalleled work ethic in ensuring organizational efficiency and achieving bottom-line results. Efficient at conducting reinvestigation, processing Special Access Request (SCI), as well as scheduling Counterintelligence (CI) Polygraph.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SECURITY CLEARANCE – TS/SCI

Security Specialist/Acting PM 07/2019 to Current

Koniag Government Services Vienna, VA

Supports the FBI Terrorist Screening Center as an Acting Program Manager overseeing the day-to-day work activities and evolution of the Personnel and Physical Security Program. Attend weekly leadership team meetings with internal and external personnel to keep clients abreast of program performance, technical activities, and development.

Provide mentoring and guidance to team, as well facilitating high-level goals and objectives from strategic planning to tactical implementation. To ensure that team members are trained and are knowledgeable of all new policies, guidelines, and procedures.

Conducted human resources operations for coordinating first and second level application interviews with candidates which include new hire packet and drug screening.

Ensured accuracy of weekly billing invoices prior to submission to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Efficiently delegated assigned cases and reviewed completed security packages prior to submission to Federal Team Leader.

Coordinates and facilitates security indoctrination briefings, debriefings, and annual refresher briefings to educate cleared personnel on policies and procedures.

Issues badges to visitors, contract personnel, vendors, and employees prior to facility access.

Administered fingerprinting services to employees, contractors, and interns as part of the screening processing for employment at the DOJ.

Initiate, review, and process personnel security clearances and periodic reinvestigation through Electronic Questionnaires for Investigation Processing (e-QIP).

Assist InfoSec and physical security team with conducting research analysis and adjudicating comprehensive security incidents reports, resetting complex combination locks, sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) access, conducting random SCIF surveys, self-inspections, and escorting uncleared personnel throughout classified spaces.

Senior Personnel Security Specialist 03/2015 to 07/2019

GEM Technologies Washington, DC

Supports the FBI Initial Clearance Section (ICS) and Reinvestigation Unit adjudicating Mission-Critical and Risk Based Background Investigations utilizing the thirteen adjudicative security and suitability guidelines.

Critically assessed suitability and security concerns and adjudicate complex background investigations reviewing, interpreting, analyzing, and applying suitability and security policies and directives in order to render determinations to suitability and security clearance eligibility for candidates seeking FBI employment.

Collected, compiled and set investigative leads based on information received from numerous sources, including FBI databases, court proceedings, and public records.

Maintained communication with senior leadership, Headquarters, division representatives, and field offices to complete thorough investigations and resolve concerns related to personnel security requirement or procedures.

Conducted records checks utilizing internal and external databases on candidates, their family members, and relevant associates.

Composed comprehensive security and suitability correspondence (AWS) outlining possible security concerns that may affect the final adjudicative decision in determining whether to grant, deny, revoke, suspend or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and suitability guidelines 5 Code Federal Regulations 731.

Team Leader Personnel Security Specialist 11/2008 to 03/2015

Skyhawk Logistic, Inc. Washington, DC

Supported the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a Team Leader adjudicating periodic reinvestigation utilizing the thirteen adjudicative security and suitability guidelines. Provided team leadership in monitoring all investigative personnel and reviewing the investigative reports produced by lower-level staff.

Served as a subject matter expert within the Security Division providing investigative and adjudicative training to new employees and assisting colleagues with interpreting various executive directives, polices, practices and guidelines.

Developed, analyze, edit, and provide recommendations for quality assurance measures to improve the overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of investigative and adjudicative programs.

Maintained communication with senior leadership and representatives to identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, evaluate performance measures and ensure processes are within mandated requirements.

Adjudicates complex background and reports of investigations; interprets and applies suitability factors and adjudicative guidelines and makes discretionary recommendations effecting final suitability and security clearance eligibility.

Composed comprehensive security and suitability correspondence (AWS) outlining possible security concerns that may affect the final adjudicative decision in determining whether to grant, deny, revoke, suspend or restrict security clearances consistent with national security and suitability guidelines 5 Code Federal Regulations 731.

Conducted records checks utilizing internal and external databases on candidates, their family members, and relevant associates.

Administered fingerprinting services to employees, contractors and interns as part of the screening processing for employment at the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to fulfill requirement for the background investigation process.

Served as the primary e-QIP help desk administrator for the e-QIP system for issues related to Electronic Questionnaire for Investigation Processing (e-QIP) and creating or resetting e-QIP accounts.

Senior Personnel Security Specialist 06/2006 to 11/2008

Keane Federal Systems, Inc. Washington, DC

Supported the FBI Special Agent Unit (SAU) adjudicating initial Background Investigation and Periodic Reinvestigation utilizing the thirteen adjudicative security and suitability guidelines. Provided team leadership in monitoring all investigative personnel and reviewing the investigative reports produced by lower-level staff.

Adjudicates complex Background Investigation and reports of investigations; interprets and applies suitability factors and adjudicative guidelines and makes discretionary recommendations effecting final suitability and security clearance eligibility.

Collected, compiled and set investigative leads based on information received from numerous sources, including FBI databases, court proceedings, and public records.

Maintained communication with senior leadership, Headquarters, division representatives, and field offices to complete thorough investigations and resolve concerns related to personnel security requirement or procedures.

Reviewed questionnaire for National Security Positions Standard Form (SF) 86 for government new hires using the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) system to ensure completion of all required information.

Conducted records checks utilizing internal and external databases on candidates, their family members, and relevant associates.

Initiated background investigations for Special Agents who required access to classified and/or sensitive government information.

Reviewed incoming appeal letters, compared, and analyzed information provided by candidates to information disclosed during background investigation and prepared and presented report to Appeals Board on recommendation to approve or deny reconsideration for employment.

Adjudicator/Security Specialist 08/2003 to 06/2006

Pitney Bowes Washington, DC

Supported the Department of Justice adjudicating initial Background Investigation utilizing the thirteen adjudicative security and suitability guidelines. Demonstrated exceptional customer service to onboard employees, contractors, task force officers, detailees, and various individuals in need of security clearance.

Manage the Personnel Security Program (PSI), ensuring all initial and periodic personnel security investigations are submitted within prescribe timeline.

Acted as human resource generalist, responsible for coordinating first- and second-level application interviews with clients which included new hire packet and drug screening.

Adjudicates complex Background Investigation and reports of investigations; interprets and applies suitability factors and adjudicative guidelines and makes discretionary recommendations effecting final suitability and security clearance eligibility.

Collected, compiled and set investigative leads based on information received from numerous sources, including FBI databases, court proceedings, and public records.

Maintained communication with senior leadership to complete thorough investigations and resolve concerns related to personnel security requirement or procedures.

Reviewed incoming appeal letters, compared and analyzed information provided by candidates to information disclosed during background investigation and prepared and presented report to Appeals Board on recommendation to approve or deny reconsideration for employment.

Administered fingerprinting services to employees, contractors and interns as part of the screening processing for employment at the DOJ.

Confirmed security clearance and accesses in the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) or equivalent system of visitors, issue appropriate badge, and notify sponsors of visitor's arrival.

Provided exceptional customer service in a dynamic environment answering telephone, email, and face-to-face inquires to schedule, enroll, and issue PIV Cards in accordance with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS).

EDUCATION

Certification: Computer Specialist 2002

Sanz Training School Washington, DC

High School Diploma: Computer Science 2000

Continental Academy Coral Gables, FL

TECHNICAL SKILLS

•SSAG (Security and Suitability Adjudicative Guidelines Course (SSAG) •Introduction to DOD Personnel Security Adjudication Course •CATS (Case Activity Tracking System) •Sentinel Database Tool •OPM Portal/e-QIP Subject Matter Expert •CARS (Case Assignment & Retrieval System) •Access to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) via WAMS •DIVS (Data Integration and Visualization System) •LexisNexis Triple Merge Credit Reporting •National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (NLETS) •ERSEC System (Integrated Security Management Systems) •Integrated Security Management System (ISMS) •Scattered Castles/Signal Flags •Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) •Clearance Verification System (CVS) •Personnel Investigations Processing System (PIPS) •Justice Security Tracking and Adjudication Record Systems (JSTARS) •Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System (DPRIS) •Treasury Enforcement Communication System (TECS)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Assistant Deputy Director Outstanding Performance Letter, Terrorist Screening Center (07/2022)

Outstanding Performance Award, Gem Technology (04/2019)

Outstanding Performance Award, Gem Technology (05/2017)

Security and Suitability Adjudicative Course, Federal Bureau of Investigation (03/2015)

Outstanding Employee of the Month Contest Winner, Skyhawk Logistic (02/2013)

Outstanding Performance Award, Skyhawk Logistic (08/2012)

Assistant Director Outstanding Performance Letter, Customs and Border Protection (08/2012)

CJIS Fingerprinting Award, Federal Bureau of Investigation (09/2008)

Outstanding Performance Time off Award, Keane Federal Systems, Inc. (10/2006 & 11/2007)

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