BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE AIR FORCE
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HANDBOOK 16-1406
16 MAY 2023
Operations Support
NATIONAL INTEREST
DETERMINATIONS
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the e-
Publishing web site at www.e-Publishing.af.mil
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication
OPR: SAF/AAZ Certified by: SAF/AAZ
(Ms. Jennifer Aquinas)
Supersedes: AFH 16-1406, 13 February 2017 Pages: 20
This handbook provides guidance to assist Department of the Air Force (DAF) personnel with
requesting, reviewing, and rendering a decision on National Interest Determinations (NIDs), for
cleared contractors in the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). Nothing in this handbook
will contradict requirements outlined in Federal, Department of Defense (DoD), or DAF policy,
and it should be used in conjunction with DoDM 5220.32-Volumes 1 and 2, Directive Type
Memorandum (DTM) 15-002, AFMAN 16-1406, and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section
32, Part 117. This guidance applies to all DAF civilian employees, uniformed members of the
Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, the Civil Air Patrol (when
conducting missions as the official Air Force Auxiliary), the U.S. Space Force (USSF), and
contractor support personnel when stated in the contract or DD Form 254, “Department of Defense
Contract Security Classification Specification,” except where noted otherwise. Refer
recommended changes and questions to the office of primary responsibility (OPR) listed above,
using the DAF Form 847, Recommendation for change of publication, and route through the local
information protection office. This publication may be supplemented at any level, but all
supplements will be routed to the OPR prior to certification and approval.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
This document has been revised and should be completely reviewed. Revisions were made to
simplify guidance, align with Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)
procedures, clarify roles/responsibilities, update important points of contact, and incorporate of
new guidance from the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)),
