The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a significant blow to China's efforts to recruit Western military expertise. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, a retired Air Force Major with the call sign "Runner," was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Brown, a decorated veteran who commanded units responsible for nuclear delivery systems, stands accused of violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) by providing specialized defense services to the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) without a State Department license.

According to the criminal complaint, Brown’s involvement began in August 2023 when he was recruited by Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously convicted of hacking U.S. defense contractors. In December 2023, Brown traveled to China to begin a multi-year stint as a flight instructor. Federal agents allege that on his very first day in the PRC, Brown underwent a three-hour debriefing by Chinese officials regarding U.S. Air Force operations. He subsequently trained Chinese pilots on advanced maneuvers and simulated combat scenarios, effectively teaching them how to counter the stealth and tactical advantages of the F-35 Lightning II.

"Major Brown allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect," said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. The Pentagon is currently assessing the damage, as Brown’s knowledge of U.S. air-to-air doctrine—including his experience with the F-15 and F-16—provides China with a literal playbook of how Western pilots think and react in the cockpit. This arrest comes as the U.S. intensifies its global crackdown on retired military personnel selling their expertise to adversaries, a practice the DOJ warns "jeopardizes our national security for personal gain."

Sources: Al Jazeera, U.S. Department of Justice, The Straits Times