In the American TV series "Burn Notice", what was Sam Axe's former profession?

"Burn Notice" is an American television series created by Matt Nix, which originally aired on the USA Network for a total of seven seasons from June 28, 2007, to September 12, 2013. The show stars Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, and beginning in season four, Coby Bell.

Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) is an aging, semiretired covert operative and former Navy SEAL with a low amount of cash-on-hand to his name. Sam spends most of his time sleeping with rich, older Miami women in exchange for food and shelter. He presents himself as "the guy who knows a guy", and Sam is frequently relied upon to use his seemingly inexhaustible list of contacts.

The title of the series refers to the burn notices issued by intelligence agencies to discredit or announce the dismissal of agents or sources who are considered to have become unreliable. When spies are burned, their connection to an espionage organization is terminated, leaving them without access to cash or influence.