The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency safeguards the nation as the premier provider of integrated security services. As the primary Investigative Service Provider for the Federal Government, DCSA conducts background investigations for 95% of the federal government, including 105 departments and agencies. It also adjudicates 70% of the federal government's adjudicative determinations. Additionally, the agency oversees 12,500 cleared facilities under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), ensuring the security of the classified information and technology in the hands of cleared industry.
To better understand the processes within background investigations and industrial security, DCSA Director David Cattler, who has been the agency director since March 2024, accompanied a background investigator conducting field work and participated in a security review of a cleared facility.
On September 25, Cattler joined the Mid-Atlantic Region on a ride-along for a security review of a cleared facility operating under a foreign ownership, control or influence mitigation agreement. During this visit, Cattler joined DCSA’s Industrial Security team, which is responsible for evaluating compliance to 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 117, “National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual,” Rule and identifying potential gaps in security controls; discussing approach vectors applicable to the facility and determine if measures are in place to counter potential threats; and advising the contractor on how to achieve and maintain an effective security program. This team conducts regular reviews, offering guidance and ensuring viable processes are put in place to prevent unauthorized disclosures, espionage, and other insider threats.
During the ride-along, Cattler observed firsthand the detailed process of securing classified information and technology by these cleared facilities. This involves reviewing security protocols, assessing access controls, and ensuring that personnel with access to classified information are continuously vetted.
DCSA’s focus during these facility security reviews is not just compliance but proactive risk mitigation. By working closely with facility security officers, DCSA seeks to predict and prevent risks before they manifest into security breaches.
On Nov. 5, Cattler accompanied Special Agent Robert Patterson as he conducted fieldwork on multiple background investigations. Seeing the BI mission in action gave the director a first-hand look at the largest piece of the agency’s mission – conducting background investigations.
The extent of the investigation will depend on the type of job and the degree of harm the person in that job could cause. Even if a job does not require a security clearance to access classified national security information, regulations require an investigation for a suitability determination. When a suitability determination is conducted, it is a review of the character and conduct of an individual to determine if they are suitable for a position in the federal government.
During the investigation process, DCSA background investigators will gather information from multiple sources to develop a whole person view of the applicant. This could involve interviewing family members and friends, gathering records from the local courthouse, or verifying employment. Content gathered during the interviews will include verification of where the individual lived, worked or went to school, as well as questions regarding their character and conduct.
“I have worked in this role my entire career,” said Patterson, who has been a special agent for 15 years, “and there have been times where agents in the field have felt a bit disconnected from senior leadership. I was excited to see Director Cattler take a direct approach to better understand what it is we do at the field level. I am very appreciative to have had the opportunity to be the first field agent to provide that experience to a DCSA director.”
Patterson, who works out of the Quantico Field Office in Virginia, had scheduled Enhanced Subject Interviews (ESI) with two individuals in the Haymarket, Va., library, the content of which is used to corroborate a person’s character. If Patterson needs additional information, he will use a variety of sources to address information provided or developed throughout the investigation. Following the ESIs, a third interview was scheduled at a cleared industry facility in Manassas, Va.
During the ride along, Patterson noted, “The director and I discussed a variety of ways in which the investigator position has evolved over the years, particularly post-COVID. Specifically, we discussed the process in which investigators canvas neighborhoods and the struggles we have at times to secure interview space.
“Additionally, I explained how the information we obtained throughout the day would either be applied to the cases at hand or disseminated to other agents in the field,” he continued. “I hoped to convey not just what it is that we do, but why we do it.”
Following the interviews, Patterson and the director travelled to the Prince William County police department and the county courthouse in Manassas to obtain records, such as court records or law enforcement related materials.
“Throughout the day, Director Cattler explained his goal of directly observing multiple mission areas throughout DCSA,” said Patterson. “I hope the experience he had with BI today was an informative one. We appreciate his time and effort to better understand the roles we all have in executing DCSA’s mission.”
These ride-alongs served as reminders of the role of DCSA in both industrial and personnel security, particularly in preventing insider threats—an area where Cattler’s leadership has emphasized the need for early identification and intervention. His work aligns with broader efforts to integrate cutting-edge technologies and strengthen partnerships across the defense and intelligence sectors.
“Every day, I learn more about the complexity of the mission, the dedication of the workforce, and what is needed from us and the security community,” said Cattler. “This makes me better able to lead and represent and advocate for the workforce.”