He worked as a "technical assistant" for the CIA. He probably picked up a few tricks during his tenure but he didn't go through the clandestine service trainee program, which are the people you're thinking of when you think of spooky CIA types.

Or so they're telling us.

Not that I disbelieve on this count, but who was doing just what in the CIA seems like something we don't tend to know with certainty.

CIA does not imply field agent. If you worked for the CIA behind a desk for years, does that give you 'secret agent' skills?

No, but I bet you would allude to it at the bar.