The Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) handles hearings and decisions in PCL cases; if the DOD Consolidated Adjudications Facility cannot determine, where is the case referred?

• A. Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA)
• B. The President's Security Council
• C. The Department of Justice
• D. The Office of the Inspector General

Answer: (A)

When a DoD personnel security case is being processed, the initial adjudication is done by the Consolidated Adjudications Facility. If CAF cannot determine the outcome or needs a formal hearing to resolve issues, the case is referred to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals for the hearing and final decision. DOHA specializes in conducting such hearings and issuing decisions on personnel security clearance matters, including PCL cases. The other entities listed—The President's Security Council, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Inspector General—do not handle DoD security clearance adjudications or PCL hearings, so they are not the appropriate referral for this situation.