Who is responsible for ensuring that employees are aware of the policies regarding classified information?

The facility's security officer plays a crucial role in ensuring that policies regarding classified information are clearly communicated and understood by all employees. This individual is responsible for implementing security protocols and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. The security officer typically provides training and resources to educate employees on these policies and practices, which helps mitigate risks related to the handling of classified information.

The security officer serves as a central figure in establishing a culture of security awareness within the organization. They are typically tasked with developing training programs, conducting briefings, and providing ongoing support to employees so that they can effectively recognize and manage classified information within their roles.

The other options highlight important roles in their own contexts but do not directly address the specific duty of raising awareness about classified information policies among employees. For instance, the Department of Defense may set overarching guidelines, but the implementation and communication of those policies at the facility level fall to the security officer. Each employee holds personal responsibility for adhering to the policies once they are communicated, but it is the security officer's responsibility to ensure that employees are informed in the first place. Likewise, external auditors may assess compliance but do not engage directly in training or awareness efforts.