Sherle R. Schwenninger (1951–2020) was a prominent American policy intellectual, co-founder and director of the Economic Growth Program, and a central architect of the New America Foundation. Described as a 'brilliant embodiment' of big-policy ideas, he dedicated his career to advancing world peace and stability through international economic strategy and foreign policy reform. He was a pioneer in remapping the global economy following the 2008 Great Recession, notably through his leadership of the World Economic Roundtable and the Economic Growth Program. His career spanned several influential institutions, including the World Policy Institute at The New School and the Council on Foreign Relations. Schwenninger was known for a distinctively Midwestern progressive perspective—an almost-forgotten tradition that viewed international well-being as essential to American flourishing. He was also a noted editor and mentor, often credited by peers as a silent co-author on dozens of influential books, emphasizing his role as a collaborative intellectual force in the New York and D.C. policy communities.