I disagree with this guys whole article. There is a difference between having a ‘clearance’ and having ‘access’.
Clearances go with the individual and can be renewed for potential work (at cost) on a scheduled basis. They are basically the screening tool.
Access is based on your CURRENT role and should be immediately withdrawn upon leaving office/role. Access is then added for any new role that you may take - provided your Clearance is the appropriate level. Access is based on A NEED TO KNOW.
Clearances are usually only pulled when someone demonstrates a lack of due diligence or improper conduct for the level they have. Access is immediately withdrawn from personnel without a clearance.
“Access” includes something called “need to know”. As noted elsewhere, if it is “above your pay grade”, there is almost no need, EVER, to know.
Does this mean I still have my “secret” clearance from the Air Force, after all, I got out in 1968?
All the missile guidance systems I worked on are now obsolete (Falcon). Most of the aircraft that could launch the air-to-air missiles are obsolete (F101, F102, F105, F106, etc), as well.
They told us the only “secret” in the tech order (user manual) was the operating frequencies, none of which I remember from over 50 years ago.
They assembled several of us together just before we mustered out of the service, and explained that we were still under the laws covering what we knew as “secrets” still applied, just clearance to anything further, or new, was now classified, as we lost out clearance upon discharge.
So, to clarify, the clearance means, “this person can be trusted”, where access is, “We can tell him about THIS”. Is that about right?