Federal authorities have taken into custody a retired U.S. Air Force pilot accused of working with China’s military to train their aviators, according to the Department of Justice.
Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, who previously served as an F-35 Lightning II training instructor and led classified operations involving nuclear weapon systems, was taken into custody Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Federal prosecutors have filed charges alleging he conspired to deliver military training services to pilots serving China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Court documents reveal that Brown started discussions in August 2023 regarding a training agreement with Su Bin, a Chinese citizen who served four years in federal prison after being convicted in 2016 for his role in cyber attacks targeting Boeing and other major American defense companies.
According to the Justice Department’s statement, Brown made a trip to China in December 2023 and remained in the country until his return to the United States this past February.
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division condemned Brown’s actions, stating he “betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect.”
Chinese embassy officials in Washington have refused to provide any statement regarding the charges.
This arrest comes as President Donald Trump prepares for an upcoming diplomatic visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with both nations working to ease trade tensions between the economic superpowers.
Despite efforts to improve trade relations, military and technological competition between the United States and China continues to intensify, with many experts characterizing the situation as a modern version of the Cold War.
Intelligence officials from the United States and partner nations have issued warnings about China’s ongoing campaign to recruit Western military veterans and active personnel, particularly experienced pilots, to provide training that helps the PLA develop countermeasures against Western air combat strategies. These recruitment efforts often involve attractive financial packages and chances to pilot advanced Chinese military aircraft.
In 2023, the Commerce Department imposed sanctions on more than a dozen organizations across China, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in recruiting Western military expertise for Chinese aviation training programs.
