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:

Former U.S. Air Force Major Gerald Brown Jr. was arrested and charged with illegally providing combat aircraft training to pilots of China's People's Liberation Army.
Brown, an experienced fighter pilot and instructor, allegedly violated the Arms Export Control Act by offering these defense services without the required U.S. State Department authorization.
Prosecutors stated Brown "betrayed the country" by jeopardizing the safety of U.S. servicemembers and allies through his unauthorized actions, which began in 2023.

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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.