Former US Air Force Major Faces Charges for Allegedly Training Chinese Military Pilots
A decorated 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force, who once commanded units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery systems, has been arrested and charged with conspiring to train troops from the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., aged 65, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana, following accusations that he violated the Arms Export Control Act by providing unauthorized military training to Chinese pilots.
Violation of Arms Export Control Act
The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced the charges, highlighting that the Arms Export Control Act strictly prohibits American citizens from offering training or assistance to foreign military forces without obtaining a proper license from the State Department. Prosecutors allege that Brown relocated to China approximately two years ago to take up a position as an 'instructor fighter pilot' for the PLAAF. His arrest marked his first return to the United States since departing abroad, according to official statements.
Exploitation of US Military Expertise
Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division emphasized the ongoing threat, stating, 'The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the US armed forces to modernize China’s military capabilities.' He added, 'This arrest serves as a warning that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who collaborates with our adversaries to harm our service members and jeopardize our national security.'
Brown retired from the Air Force in 1996 after achieving the rank of major. His post-military career included roles as an instructor for US troops and a commercial aircraft pilot. The Department of Justice detailed his extensive background, noting that during his service, he commanded sensitive units with nuclear weapons delivery responsibilities, led combat missions, and served as a fighter pilot and simulator instructor on various aircraft.
Alleged Training Activities and Communications
According to the Department of Justice, Brown began arranging his employment contract to train Chinese troops in August 2023. Prosecutors claim he engaged in conversations with Chinese national Stephen Su Bin, who was convicted in 2016 for stealing sensitive US military secrets and selling them to China. In these alleged discussions, Brown repeatedly expressed his intent to train Chinese pilots.
Upon arriving in China in December 2023, Brown reportedly told an unnamed co-conspirator, 'Now…. I have the chance to fly and instruct fighter pilots again!' On his first day of work, he answered questions for three hours about the US Air Force, and on the second day, he prepared a presentation about his experience. Investigators say he spent the next two years training PLAAF pilots.
Threat to National Security
FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle stated, 'Brown’s alleged betrayal exposed sensitive military tactics, threatening the security of our nation, our armed forces, and our allies.' Law enforcement officials described Brown as an 'elite fighter pilot' who once trained US troops on the F-35 Lightning II, one of the world's most advanced stealth aircraft. As of early this year, nearly 1,300 F-35s are in active service with US allies, including about 600 across the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Brown also served as an instructor on at least four other fighter aircraft.
Potential Penalties and Similar Cases
If convicted, Brown could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million per violation of the Arms Export Control Act. This case is not isolated; former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan was charged in 2017 for training Chinese pilots and familiarizing them with aircraft carrier operations. Duggan, a naturalized Australian citizen, was arrested in New South Wales in 2022 and has not yet been extradited to the US. He has denied the charges, claiming the US was aware of his actions and that he only trained civilian pilots. Like Brown, Duggan had communications with Stephen Su Bin, who funded his travel to Beijing in 2012. Duggan's lawyer, Bernard Collaery, has stated that Duggan was unaware of Bin's criminal activity at the time.
