The U.S. Department of Justice has arrested retired Air Force pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. 65 charging him with illegally providing defense services to the Chinese military including training Chinese pilots on advanced aircraft without authorization in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Brown a former F‑35 Lightning II instructor pilot with a 24-year military career that included commanding sensitive units and leading combat missions reportedly traveled to China in late 2023 and remained there until early February 2026 where he allegedly provided instruction on flight operations tactical maneuvers and combat readiness. Federal prosecutors say Brown negotiated terms with a Chinese national previously involved in a related espionage case and deliberately failed to obtain the required U.S. State Department license a violation that U.S. officials warn could have jeopardized national security. The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division emphasized that this arrest highlights the risks posed when former military personnel share sensitive knowledge with foreign adversaries and serves as a warning that the U.S. will hold accountable anyone who transfers defense expertise to countries like China without explicit government approval. Authorities also note that this case underscores broader concerns about intellectual property theft and foreign military recruitment targeting retired service members with investigators continuing to assess the full scope of Brown’s interactions and potential impacts on U.S. defense capabilities.
