What starts the Security Clearance Adjudicative Process?

The initiation of the Security Clearance Adjudicative Process is marked by the successful completion of a personnel security investigation. This investigation serves to assess an individual's background, character, and suitability for access to classified information. Following this thorough inquiry, the findings are compiled into a report that serves as the basis for determining whether the individual meets the necessary standards for security clearance.

Once the personnel security investigation is complete, the relevant adjudicative guidelines are applied to evaluate the individual's eligibility, which includes considering factors such as loyalty, integrity, and reliability. This step is crucial because the adjudication process inherently relies on the information gathered during the investigation to make informed decisions regarding security clearances. Without this foundational investigation, there would be no substantive data to evaluate, hence the entire process hinges on its completion.