# DLA Intelligence reinforces classified document rules

/ Published Jan. 30, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
If recent headlines aren’t clear enough, take it from Matt Baker.

“Classified documents should never be taken home,” said the Defense Logistics Agency’s information security program manager.

Rules for classifying, marking, safeguarding and declassifying national security information are outlined in Executive Order 13526. Mandatory annual training also emphasizes employees’ obligation to protect classified information.

News heralding the mishandling of classified documents by political officials, however, is prompting intelligence officials throughout the government to reinforce regulations. On Jan. 26, FBI Director Christopher Wray addressed recent reports during a Justice Department news conference.

“People need to be conscious of the rules for classified information and appropriate handling of it. Those rules are there for a reason,” he said.

Baker said diligence is key, especially in busy environments where classified documents can mistakenly be mixed among unclassified documents.

“When there’s comingling of classified and unclassified documents, things can get mixed up and next thing you know you take home a folder you think has only unclassified information but now has classified information, too,” he said.

Classified documents may be stored only in containers approved by the General Services Administration or in open storage spaces approved by DLA Intelligence.

“So they should be working with it only in certain areas and they should take care to put it back in proper storage when they’re done with it,” Baker added.

Employees who need to take classified documents to another location such as a meeting at the Pentagon must have received additional prior training, acquired courier authorization and have an approved storage bag for transporting the documents. Information security specialists recommend that employees send them by electronic means on a classified system instead.

Baker also stressed the importance of destroying classified documents no longer needed.

“It’s best to properly destroy them when you’re done with them because having a large volume of classified documents not needed for official duties any longer just lends itself to spillage and other issues,” he said.

Consequences for security violations range from official reprimand and loss of clearance to being fired and criminal charges in the case of nefarious intent. Violations have occurred at DLA and frequently involve employees putting classified material on an unclassified system, Baker added.

“Often what happens is someone who is cued into the information realizes it’s sensitive and brings it to our attention. We conduct a preliminary inquiry and do all the fact finding, then run our discovery against published guidance to make a determination on whether the information was or was not classified.”

Baker said everyone is responsible for protecting classified information, even those who don’t have a clearance because they may be inadvertently exposed.

“If we don’t properly handle classified information, it can put the warfighter in danger, jeopardize missions and put lives on the line,” he added.

DLA Intelligence reinforced the importance of information security in early 2020 after COVID-19 led to mass telework. Lax security practices and increased unauthorized disclosures of sensitive, non-public information then led to a Defense Department-wide campaign reminding employees of their operations security responsibilities.

DLA Intelligence has returned to its pre-pandemic review program and is inspecting offices that work with classified information.

More information is available at local DLA Intelligence offices and the Center for Development of Security Excellence.