An audio rendition of this piece is presented by the Air & Space Forces Association, commemorating and aiding our Airmen, Guardians, and their loved ones. Learn more at afa.org
Ex-Air Force serviceman and former pilot Maj. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. was apprehended on Feb. 25 in Jeffersonville, Ind., facing accusations in a federal filing for “furnishing and colluding to furnish defense assistance to Chinese military aviators without official sanction.”
“The United States Air Force prepared Major Brown to be a top-tier combat aviator and tasked him with safeguarding our Nation. He now stands accused of instructing Chinese military pilots,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg declared in a communiqué.
When American individuals, be they service personnel or civilians, offer instruction to foreign armed forces, it is unlawful without a permit from the U.S. State Department, Eisenberg explained.
“Supplying U.S. military guidance to our opponents represents a considerable peril to national security,” stated Lee M. Russ, chief officer of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ Office of Special Projects. “AFOSI persists in combatting the peril presented by individuals who breach the confidence placed in them and jeopardize our military personnel.”
Since at least August 2023, Brown reportedly “colluded with citizens of other countries and American individuals to furnish instruction on combat aircraft operations to pilots in the Chinese Air Force,” as per government records. The Chinese Communist Party’s military branches are officially designated as the People’s Liberation Army, with its air component known as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Brown purportedly initiated negotiations for the conditions of his agreement to instruct Chinese military pilots, employing an accomplice to broker discussions with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national who admitted culpability in federal court in 2016 to colluding to breach the digital systems of prominent American military suppliers and pilfer confidential defense and regulated information on behalf of Beijing.
The Justice Department indicates that across his communications, Brown frequently expressed his aim to educate Chinese military pilots in wartime maneuvers. The curriculum vitae submitted with his bid identified his goal as being an instructor fighter pilot. An accomplice told Brown he hoped that Brown would be stationed at his installation, “but otherwise you’ll go where there is the indigenous counterpart to the [American Air Force] Weapons Academy.”
Brown later told the accomplice after reaching China: “Now … I have the opportunity to pilot and guide fighter pilots again!”
In December 2023, he journeyed to China to commence his teaching duties with Chinese military pilots. His first day there, he responded to inquiries for three hours about the U.S. Air Force and, on his second day, delivered a personal presentation about himself for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
He remained in the country until coming back to America in early February, according to the Department of Justice announcement.
Brown spent two decades plus four years in the Air Force, concluding his active service in 1996. He led critical detachments tasked with atomic ordnance deployment mechanisms, directed wartime sorties, and functioned as a combat aviator and flight simulator mentor on aircraft including the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt II, as stated by the Justice Department.
He later worked as a civilian transport pilot and, lately, as a contracted flight simulation trainer for two American military equipment providers, instructing American service aviators to fly the A-10 and F-35.
The communiqué states, the accusations against Brown resemble those leveled against ex-Marine aviator Daniel Edmund Duggan, who was indicted similarly in September 2017. Duggan is purportedly accused of instructing Chinese military pilots on naval aircraft carrier launch and recovery methods, approaches, and processes.
Officials apprehended Duggan in Australia in October 2022. He is presently undergoing extradition to the United States.
Beginning in 2022, there have been accounts of Western aviators being recruited by China for the instruction of Chinese military pilots.
The Aviationist disclosed that 30 ex-UK aviators had been enlisted by China since late 2019, with proposals for yearly remunerations of $270,000.
But the British newspaper Express stated in 2022 that some of those same pilots were assigned by British authorities to gather information on China during their stay there. All the pilots had departed the PRC, and the “mission” had concluded as of 2022, per the account.
The French newspaper Le Figaro further indicated that China had been looking for French trainers owing to their proficiency in naval aircraft deck recoveries.
A 2024 advisory from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence notified people of attempts by Beijing to enlist active and ex-service members from NATO members and other Occidental states.
“The knowledge the PLA acquires from Occidental defense expertise jeopardizes the well-being of the individuals being sought, their colleagues in uniform, and American and partner nation safety,” said Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, head of AFOSI. “AFOSI, in conjunction with our policing and intelligence agency partners, will continue our tireless chase of any foe endangering our personnel, safety, or assets to guarantee the Air Force’s capacity to operate, contend, and prevail in an upcoming engagement.”
The United States and NATO tackled Beijing’s efforts to exploit skilled aviation personnel at the Conference on Safeguarding Military Proficiency from Rivals at NATO Allied Air Command, Ramstein Air Base, in early 2024.
The conference was the inaugural event concentrating on this persistent issue, as stated in the announcement.
Authorities observed that Beijing’s operatives have aimed at personnel including pilots, maintenance staff, air control center staff, and other specialized professionals who can offer insight into U.S. and NATO strategies, methods, and protocols.
In early 2025, Air Force commanders released advisories cautioning both active and retired uniformed personnel to remain vigilant regarding attempts by civilian flight firms linked to the Chinese military seeking to enlist them.
“To do this, the [People’s Liberation Army] has employed civilian firms, like the Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Beijing China Aviation Technology Co., and Stratos, to engage ex-combat aviators from Canada, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, the US, and other Occidental countries to instruct PLA Air Force and Naval pilots,” as detailed in a February 2025 media brief from U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.
Officials request that persons approached by these organizations promptly get in touch with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Gen. James B. Hecker, at-the-time head of NATO Allied Air Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, released his caution to American and allied flight personnel to steer clear of employment proposals from commercial flight enterprises supporting Beijing.
Hecker’s warning followed an amendment to Germany’s military statutes in January 2025. The update levied more severe sanctions against German-instructed military personnel who furnish such assistance or defense information to armies of other nations.
Both the United Kingdom and Belgium enacted comparable legislation in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
“After serving with our unit, even after you conclude your military service, you have a duty to safeguard our strategies, methods, and protocols,” Hecker said. “The recent legislation enacted last year demonstrates that partner nations will endeavor to hold people responsible when they endanger the well-being of our colleagues by seeking work supported by our foes. We applaud these legislative modifications and urge other partners to contemplate comparable actions.”
An audio rendition of this piece is presented by the Air & Space Forces Association, commemorating and aiding our Airmen, Guardians, and their loved ones. Learn more at afa.org