Edwin John Feulner Jr. (1941–2025) was a prominent American conservative leader, policy expert, and political scientist, best known as the co-founder and long-time president of The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative think tank he established alongside Paul Weyrich and Joseph Coors in 1973 to provide intellectual support for conservative causes and influence U.S. policy. He served as its president from 1977 to 2013, and again briefly from 2017 to 2018, guiding its growth into a powerhouse of conservative thought that has significantly influenced Republican policy for decades. His leadership spanned decades, during which he advised multiple Republican administrations, from Reagan to George W. Bush, through policy papers, legislative advocacy, and training programs. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Feulner developed an early interest in politics and public policy, shaped by his Midwestern upbringing and Catholic education. He began his career as a congressional aide and foreign relations consultant, working on Capitol Hill and contributing to Republican political efforts during the mid-20th century. Beyond Heritage, he served as president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) from 1986 to 1996 and worked as a journalist and advisor. He authored books on conservatism and international relations, emphasizing free-market economics, limited government, and traditional values, which made him a key architect of the modern conservative movement. Recognized for his strategic acumen in building networks of influence within Washington, D.C., and beyond, he navigated controversies surrounding the think tank's partisan activities and funding sources but remained a steadfast advocate for conservative principles until his death in 2025. Feulner's legacy endures through Heritage's ongoing impact on U.S. policy debates.