Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., a 65-year-old former US Air Force officer, was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on Wednesday, accused of illegally providing defense services to Chinese military pilots. The US Department of Justice alleges that Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot, violated the Arms Export Control Act by training members of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force without authorization.
Brown, who served 24 years in the Air Force, is accused of conspiring with foreign nationals, including Stephen Su Bin, to negotiate a contract in August 2023 to train Chinese pilots. Su Bin, a Chinese national, previously pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to hack US defense contractors. Brown allegedly traveled to China in December 2023 and remained there until February 2026 to conduct the training.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny over China’s recruitment of former US military personnel to enhance its military capabilities. In 2024, a notice was issued warning current and former military members about potential civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized training of foreign militaries. This case echoes the arrest of Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine Corps pilot, who was detained in Australia in 2022 on similar charges and is currently fighting extradition to the US.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated that Brown’s actions represent a significant betrayal, jeopardizing the safety of US servicemembers and allies. The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, along with FBI Louisville, is actively involved in the investigation.
Brown’s extensive military career included leading combat missions and commanding units involved in nuclear weapons delivery systems. After retiring from the Air Force in 1996, he transitioned to a career as a commercial cargo pilot and later worked as a defense contractor, training US pilots on various aircraft, including the A-10 Warthog and F-35 Lightning II.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about the exploitation of US military expertise by foreign governments, particularly China’s strategic efforts to recruit American military talent. Former Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. highlighted these recruitment efforts in a 2023 memo, warning of the potential risks to national security.
Brown is scheduled to appear before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on Thursday. The charges against him, if proven, could result in severe penalties, reflecting the gravity of unauthorized military training and its implications for US national security.
