A retired U.S. Air Force pilot has been accused of illegally providing defense services to Chinese military personnel, according to federal prosecutors. Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., 65, was arrested in Indiana for allegedly conspiring to train Chinese Air Force pilots without proper authorization.
Brown, known by his call sign “Runner,” faces charges under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). The Department of Justice detailed that since August 2023, Brown has allegedly worked with both foreign nationals and U.S. individuals to instruct pilots from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in combat aircraft techniques.
As a U.S. citizen, Brown required a license from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to conduct such training, which he did not possess. He was expected to appear before a judge in Indiana shortly after his arrest.
“The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots,” stated Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “When U.S. persons—whether military or civilian—provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department.”
Brown’s distinguished Air Force career spanned over two decades, during which he commanded units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery and served as a fighter pilot instructor. After retiring in 1996, he transitioned to roles as a commercial cargo pilot and a simulator instructor for U.S. defense contractors.
Training Under the Radar
Federal documents reveal that Brown began negotiating terms to train Chinese pilots in combat operations in August 2023. He purportedly collaborated with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously convicted of hacking U.S. defense contractor networks.
Su Bin was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List in 2014, and Brown allegedly communicated his intentions to train PRC pilots. Brown reportedly traveled to China in December 2023, where he engaged in training activities for nearly two years before returning to the U.S. in early 2026.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro asserted that Brown “broke” his oath to the nation, compromising the safety of American servicemembers and allies.
Echoes of Past Cases
Brown’s situation is reminiscent of the 2017 case against former U.S. Marine Daniel Edmund Duggan, who faced charges for similar offenses involving Chinese military pilots. Duggan was accused of training pilots in aircraft carrier operations and is currently awaiting extradition to the U.S.
These incidents have raised concerns among Western nations. A joint statement in 2024 by the U.S., Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand highlighted the PLA’s attempts to recruit former military personnel from NATO countries.
The ongoing investigation involves multiple FBI field offices and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, highlighting the seriousness of the charges against Brown.
