Former Air Force Officer Arrested for Training Chinese Military Pilots
A former U.S. Air Force officer and combat pilot was taken into custody on Wednesday, facing allegations of training Chinese military pilots for several years abroad.
Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He’s been charged with conspiracy to provide unauthorized defense services to the Chinese military, which raises serious concerns under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
“The U.S. Air Force trained Major Brown to be a top-notch fighter pilot and relied on him to help defend our nation. Now, he’s supposedly teaching Chinese military pilots,” remarked Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg.
Eisenberg also emphasized, “If any American, whether in the military or not, trains a foreign military, that’s illegal unless approved by the State Department.” He assured that the National Security Agency would be vigilant in safeguarding U.S. military advantages and holding those accountable who breach AECA.
During his impressive 24-year military career, Brown, known by his call sign “Runner,” led combat missions and managed classified units related to nuclear weapon systems. He also served as a flight instructor for various aircraft, the Justice Department detailed.
Brown instructed U.S. pilots on aircraft such as the A-10 Warthog, F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the advanced F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The criminal complaint states that around August 2023, Brown allegedly collaborated with co-conspirators to arrange a deal with a Chinese national to train military pilots for China.
A Chinese individual, Stephen Subin, who had previously admitted to conspiracy for stealing sensitive military data from a U.S. contractor, was involved in these dealings and worked for a company flagged by the U.S. government as linked to the Chinese government.
According to Justice Department reports, Brown “clearly indicated his intent to train Chinese military pilots on fighter jets throughout the negotiations.” Upon arriving in China in December 2023, he allegedly expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying, “Now…I have the opportunity to fly again and coach fighter pilots!”
He remained in China until he returned to the U.S. in early February 2026.
Roman Rosavsky, deputy director of the FBI’s counterintelligence and espionage division, remarked, “Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with extensive U.S. military experience, is accused of betraying his nation by training these pilots, who are supposed to be our adversaries.”
He added that the Chinese government is actively trying to recruit current and former U.S. military personnel to enhance its military capabilities. This recent arrest is seen as a crucial step by the FBI to ensure accountability for those collaborating with enemies, endangering national security.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that Brown “betrayed his country” and jeopardized the safety of U.S. service members and allies.
“We will ensure that Mr. Brown and anyone conspiring against our nation are held accountable,” Pirro emphasized. “The Department of Justice will explore every legal avenue to safeguard American military expertise.” Former Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. had highlighted in a 2023 memo that China is attempting to attract U.S. Air Force personnel with seemingly enviable job offers to bolster its military.
He warned at the time about the People’s Liberation Army’s strategy to target U.S. military personnel, including veterans, in a covert effort to “fill military capability gaps,” which poses an increasing threat to national security.
