Title 6

SECTION 7.10

7.10 Authority of the DHS Chief Security Officer.

§ 7.10 Authority of the DHS Chief Security Officer.

(a) The DHS Chief Security Officer (hereafter “Chief Security Officer”) is designated as the Senior Agency Official as required by section 5.4(d) of Executive Order 13526, and, except as specifically provided elsewhere in this part, is authorized to administer the DHS Classified National Security Information program pursuant to Executive Order 13526.

(b) To the extent that 32 CFR part 2001 refers to the agency head or “designee,” the Chief Security Officer is such designee unless determined otherwise by the Secretary. The Chief Security Officer may further delegate the associated authorities.

(1) Oversee and administer the DHS's program established under Executive Order 13526;

(2) Promulgate implementing regulations;

(3) Establish and maintain DHS-wide security education and training programs, to include implementation and management of mandatory training for DHS officials who have been delegated original classification authority and those who perform derivative classification actions and suspension of such authority for failure to attend such training;

(4) Establish and maintain an ongoing self-inspection program that shall include regularly reviewing representative samples of DHS's original and derivative classification actions, correcting instances of misclassification, and reporting annually to the Director of ISOO on the DHS self-inspection program;

(5) Establish procedures to prevent unnecessary access to classified information, including procedures that:

(i) Require that a need for access to classified information is established before initiating administrative procedures to grant access; and

(ii) Ensure that the number of persons granted access to classified information is limited to the minimum necessary for operational and security requirements and needs;

(6) Develop special contingency plans for the safeguarding of classified information used in or near hostile or potentially hostile areas;

(7) Coordinate with the DHS Chief Human Capital Officer, as appropriate, to ensure that the performance contract or other system used to rate personnel performance includes the management of classified information as a critical element or item to be evaluated in the rating of:

(i) Original classification authorities;

(ii) Security managers or security specialists; and

(iii) All other personnel whose duties significantly involve the creation or handling of classified information, including persons who apply derivative classification markings;

(8) Account for the costs associated with implementing this part and report the cost to the Director of ISOO;

(9) Assign in a prompt manner personnel to respond to any request, appeal, challenge, complaint, or suggestion concerning Executive Order 13526, that pertains to classified information that originated in a DHS component that no longer exists and for which there is no clear successor in function;

(10) Establish a secure capability to receive information, allegations, or complaints regarding over-classification or incorrect classification and to provide a ready source for guidance on proper classification;

(11) Report violations, take corrective measures and assess appropriate sanctions as warranted, in accordance with Executive Order 13526;

(12) Oversee DHS creation and participation in special access programs authorized under Executive Order 13526;

(13) Direct and administer DHS's personnel security program in accordance with Executive Order 12968 and other applicable law;

(14) Direct and administer DHS implementation and compliance with the National Industrial Security Program in accordance with Executive Order 12829 and other applicable guidance; and

(15) Perform any other duties as the Secretary may designate.

(d) The Chief Security Officer shall maintain a current list of all officials authorized pursuant to this part to originally classify or declassify documents.

(e) The Chief Security Officer shall establish and maintain a means for appointing, tracking, and training DHS officials who do or will perform original and derivative classification actions.

(f) The Chief Security Officer shall administer a program for the implementation, management, and oversight of access to and safeguarding of classified information provided to state, local, tribal, and private sector personnel pursuant to Executive Order 13549, “Classified National Security Information Program for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities,” and its implementing directives.

(g) Nothing in this part will be interpreted to abrogate or affect the responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence under the National Security Act of 1947, Public Law 235 (1947), as amended, and E.O. 12333, United States Intelligence Activities (1981), as amended, or any responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis conferred by presidential or intelligence community directive implicating those authorities, insofar as those authorities concern classified sources, methods, and activities, classified national intelligence, or sensitive compartmented information and are executed consistent with delegations or designations of authority issued pursuant to the statutory authority of the Secretary.