Michael Arthur Ledeen (August 1, 1941 – May 17, 2025) was an American neoconservative scholar, historian, journalist, philosopher, and foreign policy analyst renowned for his influential roles in U.S. national security and defense policy during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly during the Reagan administration and subsequent periods. Born in Los Angeles to engineer J. Louis Ledeen and teacher Martha Ledeen, he earned a B.A. from Pomona College in 1962 and an M.S./Ph.D. in History and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969, studying under George Mosse; his dissertation became the book Universal Fascism (1972). After being denied tenure at Washington University in St. Louis amid plagiarism allegations—which he denied—he relocated to Rome, serving from 1973 to 1977 as a visiting professor at the University of Rome and collaborating with Italian historian Renzo De Felice, while also acting as Rome correspondent for The New Republic. This period shaped his worldview with a deep suspicion of centralized power and an emphasis on human freedom; he became an expert on fascism and Italian history and maintained close ties to Italian politician Antonio Martino.

Ledeen served as a consultant to the United States National Security Council, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Defense, including as a special advisor to the Secretary of State and as an intelligence courier during the Reagan administration, conducting off-channel diplomatic conversations in Europe. He held the Freedom Scholar chair at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) for 20 years as a resident scholar and later was affiliated with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. A longtime affiliate of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), he was an advisor and speaker there and authored over 35 books, contributing to outlets such as PJ Media and The Hill. Ledeen focused particularly on issues related to Iran and terrorism and was a prominent advocate for aggressive U.S. policies including regime change in Iran, and broader interventions against perceived threats from authoritarian regimes, terrorism, and Iraq.

His career was marked by controversies, including allegations of work for the Italian intelligence agency SISMI during the 1970s and 1980s, involving payments exceeding $100,000 to offshore accounts for services such as training Italian operatives; while he admitted to consulting, he denied specific claims. He was involved as an advisor in the Iran-Contra affair and promoted the Bulgarian Connection disinformation campaign. These associations, likely formed during his time in Rome, drew scrutiny amid investigations into U.S.-Italian intelligence collaborations and related legal actions. As a neoconservative thinker, Ledeen was criticized for promoting aggressive, hawkish policies and shaping narratives around international threats, though supporters praised his anti-tyranny stance. He remained a vocal commentator on international security until his death.

Of Ashkenazi Jewish-American ethnicity and identifying with Judaism, Ledeen married Barbara Schlacter, a government official, in 1973; they had three children, including Simone Ledeen, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. His personal life remained relatively private beyond these family details and his extensive network within conservative and pro-Israel circles. Ledeen's legacy includes shaping U.S. policy debates on Iran, terrorism, and the Iraq War, though critics often condemned his views as overly militaristic and controversial.