Former U.S. Pilot Arrested for Training Chinese Military

A former U.S. fighter pilot, who went by the call sign “Runner,” has been arrested on allegations of conspiring to train pilots in the Chinese military, according to the Justice Department.

Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The arrest was linked to his supposed conspiracy to provide unauthorized defense services to Chinese military pilots, a breach of the Arms Export Control Act. The criminal complaint suggests Brown worked with foreign nationals and U.S. residents to offer fighter jet training to People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) pilots since at least August 2023.

Roman Rosavsky, deputy director of the FBI’s counterintelligence and espionage division, commented on the case, stating, “Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor with decades of experience, is accused of betraying his country by training Chinese pilots against our military.” He added that the Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of former U.S. military personnel to strengthen its military capacity. This arrest is a reminder that the FBI is committed to holding accountable those who collaborate with adversaries.

Brown had a long service in the Air Force, retiring in 1996 as a major after 24 years. Throughout his military career, he held several significant roles, including command of nuclear weapons delivery systems and serving as an instructor for various fighter aircraft like the F-4 Phantom II and F-15 Eagle.

Following his military career, Brown worked as a commercial cargo pilot and later as a contract simulator instructor for U.S. defense contractors, teaching military pilots how to fly aircraft, including the A-10 and F-35.

The complaint indicates that Brown, aided by a Chinese national named Stephen Subin, began negotiating a contract for the training of Chinese military pilots around August 2023. Subin had previously made headlines for pleading guilty to hacking into U.S. defense contractors’ networks and stealing sensitive military data meant for China, and he was sentenced to four years in prison.

The Justice Department noted that Brown openly expressed his intention to train Chinese pilots throughout his communications. In his application resume, he stated that his “goal” was to be an instructor fighter pilot. At one point, he mentioned to his co-conspirators, “I have a chance to fly again and coach fighter pilots!”

According to the Justice Department, on his first day in China, Brown faced a three-hour interrogation about his time in the U.S. Air Force. The second day involved submitting a personal brief to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Although he had been in China for several years, he just returned to the U.S. earlier this month.

Lee M. Russ from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations stated that providing military training to adversaries is a serious threat to national security and reaffirmed the Office’s dedication to countering such activities that violate trust and endanger military personnel.

This case mirrors charges brought against former Marine Corps pilot Daniel Edmond Duggan, who was arrested in Australia and accused of training Chinese military pilots. Duggan’s allegations involve tactics related to aircraft carrier operations.

Additionally, in 2024, it was reported that China is targeting former military personnel from NATO countries to enhance its military capabilities. This has raised concerns about the implications of such practices on international security.

Brown is expected to appear in front of a magistrate in the Southern District of Indiana soon.

A separate investigation reveals that thousands of Chinese pilots are trained in the U.S. each year to bolster the military power of the Chinese Communist Party. While Chinese military personnel receive training in the U.S., many others enter the country under student visas, often with little oversight, according to investigative reports. This situation raises further questions about how effectively the U.S. immigration system can prevent such manipulations and protect national interests.