The impression I get is that if the US actually wants to ask you about something then they'll do it for more than an hour. They'll fly in someone from the NSA to meet you at the border, he'll probably make you comfortable and have a nice little chat with you and it will become a big deal.
Getting stuck at the border for an hour is a sufficiently short time, in the bureaucratic system, that we can assume they didn't really care. In all probability it was just some random border guard who really did have a CS background and was excited to get a chance to use it.
Work in the military for 20 years (ok, 22) in a communications or IT capacity, retire, collect pension. 20 years of military computer experience doesn't necessarily make you an expert or even employable, sadly.
You then get preferential hiring for other positions in the government, especially law enforcement. Working for ICE/CBP wouldn't be a horrible job (if you could do it for a few days a month, I think it would be fun -- you're basically the first contact a visitor has with the US, and you get to meet lots of interesting people from around the world. In most countries, this is a particularly well respected job, a whole lot better than being deep in the bowels of government bureaucracy.)
Getting stuck at the border for an hour is a sufficiently short time, in the bureaucratic system, that we can assume they didn't really care. In all probability it was just some random border guard who really did have a CS background and was excited to get a chance to use it.