Former U.S. Air Force F-35 Pilot Arrested for Allegedly Training Chinese Military Pilots

Summary

Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., a 65-year-old former U.S. Air Force officer and F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot, was arrested in Indiana on charges of illegally providing defense services to Chinese military pilots. According to the Department of Justice, Brown violated the Arms Export Control Act by training Chinese pilots without State Department authorization, allegedly beginning around August 2023. Brown, who went by the call sign "Runner," is accused of using his decades of experience flying U.S. military aircraft to help modernize China's military capabilities.

The arrest highlights growing concerns about China's efforts to exploit the expertise of current and former U.S. military personnel. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg emphasized that providing training to foreign militaries without proper licensing is illegal, regardless of whether the person is military or civilian. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky described the alleged actions as a betrayal that jeopardizes the safety of U.S. service members and allies.

Brown was scheduled for an initial court appearance before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on February 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that the Department of Justice is committed to keeping American military expertise within the United States and holding accountable those who conspire against national interests. The case underscores the serious legal and national security implications of unauthorized technology and knowledge transfer to adversarial nations.

• Multiple federal agencies including DOJ, FBI, and Air Force Office of Special Investigations collaborated on the investigation and arrest