Former Air Force Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Pilots

Justice Department alleges retired officer instructed foreign personnel without required authorization.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 12:45 PM ET

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Travis Tingle

F-35 Lightning II [Credit: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

A former U.S. Air Force pilot and officer, Gerald Brown Jr., was arrested and charged with illegally training Chinese military pilots.
Brown allegedly provided and conspired to provide unauthorized "defense services" to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force starting in 2023, violating the Arms Export Control Act.
Prosecutors accuse Brown, who had extensive experience as a fighter pilot instructor and commanded units with nuclear weapons delivery systems, of betraying his oath and jeopardizing national security.

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A former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot is accused of illegally training members of the People’s Liberation Army.

Gerald Brown Jr. was arrested Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, according to the U.S. Justice Department. His actions violated the Arms Export Control Act, prosecutors said.