Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Kevin David Roberts (born June 24, 1974, in Houston, Texas) is an American political strategist, historian, and nonprofit administrator who has served as president of The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, since September 2021. In this role, he oversees Project 2025, a comprehensive policy blueprint for a potential Republican administration that has drawn widespread controversy for proposals including dismantling federal agencies, restricting abortion rights, and promoting Christian nationalist elements. His defense of Tucker Carlson sparked internal GOP conflict at the Republican Jewish Coalition's 2025 conference. Prior to leading Heritage, Roberts was president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) from 2016 to 2021, expanding the conservative think tank's influence in Texas politics with significant funding from donors such as the Wilks brothers.
Roberts holds a BA (1996), MA (1998), and PhD in European History (2001) from the University of Texas at Austin, with his dissertation focusing on the Weimar Republic. He was a professor of history at the University of Wyoming from 2001 to 2013 and then served as founding president of Wyoming Catholic College from 2013 to 2016, reflecting his Catholic faith and commitment to traditional values. His political ideology aligns with paleoconservatism, emphasizing nationalism, traditional family values, and opposition to globalism.
Roberts is married with children, resides in the Washington, D.C. area, identifies as Catholic, and reportedly earns over $500,000 annually at Heritage. His leadership has faced criticism for promoting policies viewed as discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ rights and immigrants. There are no publicly documented major legal issues, health problems, or substance-related controversies associated with him.