'Elite' US Air Force fighter pilot accused of secretly training Chinese pilots

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAYThu, February 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM UTC

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An ex "elite" United States Air Force fighter pilot has been arrested and accused of secretly training Chinese military pilots for combat missions overseas, federal prosecutors said.

Former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., also known by the call sign "Runner," was arrested in Jefferson, Indiana on Feb. 26 in connection to allegations he taught members of the country's foreign military overseas, the U.S. Department of Justice announced in a news release.

Brown, 65, was charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), officials said. The overseas training took place over a more than two-year period that began around August 2023, when officials said Brown "willfully conspired with foreign nationals and U.S. persons to provide combat aircraft training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force," also called the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

"The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement. "When U.S. persons – whether military or civilian - provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department. The National Security Division will use all tools at its disposal to protect our military advantages and hold to account those who would violate the AECA."

Brown was set to appear for his first court appearance in the Southern District of Indiana on Feb. 26.

FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said Brown's arrest emphasized the FBI’s "steadfast promise to defend the homeland against all foreign and domestic adversaries."

"Brown allegedly sold out his country to train Chinese pilots with his expertise in United States’ combat aircraft techniques," Barnacle said in a statement. "Brown’s alleged betrayal exposed sensitive military tactics, threatening the security of our nation, our armed forces, and our allies."

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Who is Gerald Eddie Brown Jr.?

A U.S. citizen, officials said Brown served for more than two decades in the U.S. Air Force, leaving active duty in 1996 with the rank of major.

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During his military career, Brown "commanded sensitive units with responsibility for nuclear weapons delivery systems, led combat missions, and served as a fighter pilot instructor and simulator instructor on a variety of fighter and attack aircraft," officials said.

Those aircrafts included the following:

F-4 "Phantom II"

F-15 "Eagle"

F-16 "Fighting Falcon"

A-10 "Thunderbolt II" (Warthog)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon performs during the Legacy of Liberty Air Show at Holloman Air Force Base on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

Later in his career, Brown served as a commercial cargo pilot and, most recently, as a contract simulator instructor for two American defense contractors training U.S. military pilots on flying other aircrafts: the A-10 and the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

'Sensitive military and export-controlled data'

According to a criminal complaint, around August 2023, Brown worked with a co-conspirator to negotiate with a Chinese national to hack into the computer networks of major U.S. defense contractors and to steal "sensitive military and export-controlled data" for China.

The Chinese national, Stephen Su Bin, pleaded guilty to charges in the case in 2016 and was sentenced to nearly four years in prison, the complaint continues.

Then in December 2023, Brown traveled to China to begin training military pilots for China, the charging documents continue. Officials said Brown spent several hours answering questions about the U.S. Air Force on his first day in the country. On his second day, Brown prepared and "presented a brief about himself for the PLAAF."

Officials said Brown remained in China until traveling back to the U.S. earlier this month.

It was not immediately known whether Brown had obtained legal counsel in the case.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Air Force pilot arrested for training Chinese pilots

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