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 Major, Gerald Brown Jr., has been arrested and charged with illegally training Chinese military pilots.
He is accused of providing unauthorized "defense services" to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force without the required license, violating the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Brown, who served over 24 years as a fighter pilot and instructor, allegedly provided combat aircraft training in China starting in 2023, betraying his oath.

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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.