Wilson Beaver is the Senior Policy Analyst for defense budgeting in The Heritage Foundation’s Center for National Defense. In this role, he conducts research, writes and engages audiences on the adequacy, composition, and character of the U.S. defense budget and associated policies, and supports the center’s mission to promote a strong U.S. national defense.

Before joining Heritage in 2023, Wilson worked as a Policy Advisor on the Senate Small Business Committee for Ranking Member Rand Paul. While on the Committee, Wilson worked on defense innovation grant research security as part of the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022.

Prior to that, Wilson served as a non-commissioned officer and team leader in the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army, Wilson served as a paratrooper in the 173^rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) in Vicenza, Italy, participating in exercises and operations with NATO partners around Europe and on a deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Wilson has a master’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Louisiana State University with a minor in German. From 2009-2010 he lived and studied in Russia with the State Department’s National Security Language Initiative.

In total, Wilson has lived nine years abroad in Italy, Turkey, Russia, Austria, the Netherlands, and France and speaks Russian, French, and German. He lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Shadae.