It isn't the "highest" clearance - as in the highest. It is DoE's equivalent of a DoD TS. Q and TS are equal. Both require an SSBI investigation.
I know you guys think Q is some magical all-encompassing clearance but it literally is just the DoE's version of a TS designed for restricted atomic data - much like any other DoD codeword. In fact, a Q doesn't even require a polygraph. Many TS/SCI clearances do not either, but there are some that do (I did not ever require a poly in either the USAF or the NRC/DoE).
It is also important to note that just because you have a TS or a Q does not mean you get to see everything classified. You have to have authorization and the need to know as well.
I'll probably get downvoted by people who know nothing about clearances or the process to get and keep them, but it doesn't matter. I doubt there are but maybe a handful of us on this site that have ever had both clearances and we all know what we are talking about. All of this info is easy to find all over the internet from wiki to clearancejobs.com.
When I was transferrd to the radio room on board my ship, I was given a provisional TS clearence-I don't recall if it was made solid.. I was in the radio room for over a year and a half. New technology came on board and the 1966 tech was compromised by the capture of the Pueblo..
It isn't the "highest" clearance - as in the highest. It is DoE's equivalent of a DoD TS. Q and TS are equal. Both require an SSBI investigation.
I know you guys think Q is some magical all-encompassing clearance but it literally is just the DoE's version of a TS designed for restricted atomic data - much like any other DoD codeword. In fact, a Q doesn't even require a polygraph. Many TS/SCI clearances do not either, but there are some that do (I did not ever require a poly in either the USAF or the NRC/DoE).
It is also important to note that just because you have a TS or a Q does not mean you get to see everything classified. You have to have authorization and the need to know as well.
I'll probably get downvoted by people who know nothing about clearances or the process to get and keep them, but it doesn't matter. I doubt there are but maybe a handful of us on this site that have ever had both clearances and we all know what we are talking about. All of this info is easy to find all over the internet from wiki to clearancejobs.com.
When I was transferrd to the radio room on board my ship, I was given a provisional TS clearence-I don't recall if it was made solid.. I was in the radio room for over a year and a half. New technology came on board and the 1966 tech was compromised by the capture of the Pueblo..
If you were in the job for more than 3-6 months they would've had to make it a full TS. Otherwise they would remove you from the position.