Federal prosecutors have charged Brown with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without obtaining the required approval, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. The law prohibits US citizens, whether military or civilian, from offering defense-related services to foreign armed forces without a license issued by the State Department. Brown is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge in Indiana on Thursday, February 26, for initial proceedings in the case.
In a statement, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the US Air Force had trained Brown as an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with national defense responsibilities. Eisenberg stated that Brown now stands accused of training Chinese military pilots, adding that the National Security Division would use all available legal tools to safeguard US military advantages and enforce compliance with the Arms Export Control Act.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia said that as an Air Force officer, Brown had sworn an oath to defend the nation against foreign and domestic threats. She alleged that by providing unauthorized military training, he violated that oath and jeopardized the safety of US service members and allied forces.
The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division also addressed the arrest, stating that the Chinese government has sought to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the US armed forces to advance its military capabilities. Roman Rozhavsky, an official with the division, described the arrest as a warning that authorities would hold accountable anyone who collaborates with foreign adversaries in ways that threaten US national security.
Brown served more than 24 years in the US Air Force and retired from active duty in 1996 with the rank of major. During his military career, he commanded sensitive units responsible for overseeing nuclear weapons delivery systems and led combat missions. He worked as both a fighter pilot instructor and simulator instructor on several aircraft platforms, including the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. He also served as an instructor on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
After leaving active duty, Brown transitioned to civilian aviation, working as a commercial cargo pilot. More recently, he was employed as a contract simulator instructor for two US defense contractors responsible for training American military pilots to operate the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-35 Lightning II.
The charges against Brown underscore ongoing concerns within US national security agencies about the unauthorized transfer of sensitive military knowledge and training. Authorities have emphasized that compliance with federal export control laws remains critical to protecting defense technologies, operational tactics, and the strategic advantages of the United States and its allies. Brown’s case will proceed through the federal court system as prosecutors seek to prove the allegations outlined in the indictment.
