Personnel Security Clearance Adjudication Process for Government Contractor Employees

What IS in that Black Box?

This presentation will explain the process for adjudicating personnel security clearances for employees of government contractor companies, describe the categories and examples of security concerns that could be raised in the adjudication process, outline the mitigating factors that could allay the Government’s identified security concerns, and discuss the most effective strategies for identifying and mitigating potential security concerns before identified by the Government.

Orest J. Jowyk, Counsel

Instructor Mr. Orest J. Jowyk is a “second-career” lawyer who brings together over a decade of legal experience with over 30 years of experience in and around the U.S. Government. He served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as both an enlisted member and officer, and logged approximately 3,000 hours as a navigator/electronic warfare officer on the B-52, the RC-135, and the OC-135. After completing his Air Force career, he attended law school while working for a government contractor in the Washington, DC area as an acquisition analyst.

Mr. Jowyk began his legal practice in the Northern Virginia office of Shaw Pittman LLP (which later merged into what is now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP), where he was a senior associate in that firm’s Government Contracts & Disputes practice group.

He then served as General Counsel for two government contractors where he was responsible for all legal matters involving those companies. Before joining McMahon, Welch and Learned, PLLC, he practiced as a solo attorney with Ravenhearth Law, PLLC.

Daniel Herdman, Facility Security Officer

Mr. Herdman is a career security specialist with over 11 years of experience in various aspects of the field. During and after completing a degree in Administration of Justice at George Mason University, he worked in various security contractor capacities before transitioning into Personnel Security. He has supported both large and small cleared facilities, both as a billable subcontractor and as an in-house analyst. He currently serves as the Facility Security Officer for MicroHealth, managing all aspects of the Facility Clearance and the PCLs of individual employees.