A 65-year-old former U.S. Air Force officer, Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., was taken into custody today in Jeffersonville, Indiana, facing federal charges for allegedly providing unauthorized defense services to the Chinese military.
Known by the call sign “Runner,” Brown is accused of conspiring to train pilots for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.
Authorities state that Brown, a U.S. citizen with decades of experience flying elite aircraft, did not obtain the mandatory licenses from the State Department required to provide such specialized military instruction to a foreign power.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg noted that the Air Force invested heavily in Brown, training him as an elite fighter pilot entrusted with national defense.
Eisenberg emphasized that providing training to a foreign military is illegal without specific authorization, stating that the National Security Division intends to use all available tools to protect U.S. military advantages.
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According to the criminal complaint, Brown’s career spanned over 24 years, including time spent commanding units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery and instructing on platforms like the F-15 Eagle and the F-35 Lightning II. More recently, he worked as a contract simulator instructor for U.S. defense contractors.
The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, led by Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky, alleged that Brown betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against the very forces he once served.
Rozhavsky described the arrest as a warning, claiming the Chinese government actively seeks to exploit the expertise of former U.S. service members to modernize its own military.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia echoed these sentiments, stating that Brown broke his oath to defend the nation and jeopardized the safety of allies. Pirro affirmed the Department of Justice’s commitment to keeping American military expertise within the United States.
Court documents suggest the conspiracy began around August 2023. Brown allegedly negotiated his contract through a co-conspirator who dealt with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously convicted in 2016 for hacking U.S. defense contractors to steal sensitive data.
Investigators claim Brown’s application for the role explicitly stated his objective was to be an “Instructor Fighter Pilot.” In communications with co-conspirators, Brown allegedly expressed excitement about the opportunity to fly and instruct again, comparing the Chinese facility where he would work to the local equivalent of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.
The complaint alleges that Brown traveled to China in December 2023. On his first day, he reportedly spent three hours answering questions about the U.S. Air Force before presenting a briefing about his professional background to the PLAAF the following day.
He remained in China until returning to the U.S. in early February 2026. This case mirrors the 2017 charges against former Marine pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan, who was accused of teaching Chinese pilots carrier-based takeoff and landing techniques. Executive Director Lee M. Russ of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations stated that such activities represent a significant threat to national security.
This arrest follows a 2024 joint bulletin from the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance—the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—warning that China continues to target Western military personnel to bolster its capabilities.
General James B. Hecker, former commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, previously reminded veterans that their responsibility to protect military tactics remains even after they leave the service. Brown is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on February 26, 2026.
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