DCSA / DOHA Defense · Washington, D.C.
Security Clearance Defense. Washington, D.C..
The DC area is the center of the federal cleared workforce. DOHA hearings, NSA adjudications, DCSA appeals. Maryland bar admitted. Matthew Thomas Law handles security clearance defense for DC-area clients nationwide.
About This Service
Security Clearance Defense in Washington, D.C.
The Washington DC area has the highest concentration of cleared government workers and contractors in the country. DCSA adjudicates the vast majority of federal clearances, and DOHA (the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals) is where contested clearance cases go when an administrative judge hearing is requested. Matthew Thomas has appeared before DOHA administrative judges on behalf of cleared federal contractors, civilian employees, and intelligence community personnel.
Security clearance defense in the DC area is not a volume practice. Every case involves specific allegations, specific adjudicative criteria, and a specific record. The quality of the written SOR response and the preparation for any DOHA hearing determines the outcome far more than familiarity with the geographic area. Matthew handles clearance cases in the DC metro the same way he handles them nationwide: with complete attention to the specific allegations and a response strategy built around the adjudicative guidelines.
Matthew holds Maryland bar admission, which covers a significant portion of the DC cleared workforce: federal contractors in Bethesda, Fort Meade, Annapolis Junction, and throughout Montgomery County. For DCSA and NSA proceedings, bar admission is not a barrier: these are federal administrative proceedings that do not require state bar membership.
Why Matthew Thomas
Credentials Specific to This Market
Maryland Bar Admitted
Matthew holds bar admission in Maryland, covering the large cleared contractor population in the Maryland suburbs, Fort Meade, and Annapolis Junction.
NSA Adjudication Experience
NSA headquarters is in Fort Meade, MD. NSA operates a separate adjudication system (the Access Appeals Panel, or AAP) that most clearance attorneys have never worked. Matthew has.
DOHA Hearing Experience
DOHA hearings are formal administrative proceedings before an administrative judge. Matthew has appeared before DOHA judges and understands how to prepare the record for both the hearing and any subsequent appeal.
Nationwide Federal Practice
Security clearance proceedings are federal administrative matters. Geography does not limit representation. Clients throughout the DC metro area work with Matthew on the same basis as clients anywhere else in the country.
Related Practice Areas
All Services Matthew Offers in Washington, D.C.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Matthew represents clients in DOHA hearings regardless of location. DOHA hearings are federal administrative proceedings and are typically conducted with the administrative judge, the government's personnel security counsel, and Matthew appearing. He has appeared before DOHA judges on behalf of DC-area contractors and federal employees.
DCSA adjudicates the majority of federal security clearances for DoD contractors and most federal agencies. NSA adjudicates its own clearances through a separate office, with appeals to the Access Appeals Panel (AAP). If you work at NSA, for an NSA contractor, or hold an NSA-specific clearance, your case runs through a different process with different adjudicators and different criteria. Matthew handles both.
If you've received a Statement of Reasons (SOR), a Letter of Intent to Revoke, a Supplemental Information Request (SIR), or a suspension notice, you need an attorney before you respond. Responding to the government without counsel is one of the most common and most costly mistakes cleared employees make. The free 15-minute call is designed to help you understand where you stand before you do anything else.
Two Ways to Start
Discuss Your Case with Matthew Thomas
Security Clearance Defense in Washington, D.C.. Need ongoing support? Free 15-minute call, no charge, confidential. All other matters by paid consultation.
All other matters · Paid
