Ex-US Air Force major accused of secretly training Chinese military pilots
A former US Air Force major has been charged with training Chinese military pilots in violation of American law. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, was arrested after returning to the USA following two years in China. Authorities claim his actions exposed critical defense tactics to a foreign power.
Brown spent 24 years in the US Air Force, where he commanded units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery. His expertise included instructing pilots on the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and F-35 Lightning II. After retiring, he allegedly negotiated a contract in August 2023 to train Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) pilots.
He began teaching fighter aircraft operations in China the following December. Investigators state his knowledge of nuclear weapon systems and combat missions made his training particularly sensitive. The US government prohibits such assistance without State Department approval under the Arms Export Control Act.
Brown was detained upon re-entering the USA, facing charges similar to those brought against another former pilot in 2017. Daniel Edmund Duggan, a former US Marine Corps aviator, was arrested in Australia in 2022 for allegedly training PLA pilots. Duggan remains in custody, awaiting extradition to the USA.
If convicted, Brown could receive up to 20 years in prison and fines of $1 million for each violation. Prosecutors argue his actions compromised national security and that of USA allies.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the transfer of military expertise to foreign governments. Brown's arrest follows a pattern of prosecutions targeting former US service members for unauthorized training abroad. The outcome of his trial will determine whether he faces the maximum penalties under the Arms Export Control Act.
