Heidegger Heidegger is an antagonist in the " Compilation of Final Fantasy VII " and a Shinra Electric Power Company executive . He appears in " Final Fantasy VII " and " Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII - " . As a high ranking member of the Shinra organization , he is the head of Public Safety ( a euphemism for the military ) . Profile . Appearance . Heidegger is a large man who dresses in a green suit with red and gold details . His hair and bushy beard are black and his eyes are brown . In his concept artwork he has badges pinned on his suit front , possibly denoting his rank as a military leader . Personality . Heidegger ' s trademark is his " horse laugh , " " " Gya haa haa haa ! " " , much to Rufus Shinra ' s annoyance . Heidegger has a tendency to slap or punch random people when irritated by President Rufus ' s scolding or strict orders , mostly given when Heidegger fails at something . Scarlet , the head of Weapons Development , believes him to be an idiot , but still often works with him . Like most of the Shinra staff , Heidegger is arrogant and pig - headed , often refusing to believe that he can make mistakes despite the clear evidence in front of him . Story . " Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII - " . During Shinra ' s war against the eco - terrorist group AVALANCHE , Heidegger is briefly given control over the Turks from their former leader , Veld . President Shinra distrusted Veld following AVALANCHE ' s series of successful attacks using suspiciously well - coordinated intelligence . Heidegger attempts to command the Turks in an operation in Junon , but his incompetence and over - reliance on the military almost allows AVALANCHE to take the city ' s airfield , and the airship s . Veld blackmails the President to take back control of his Turks , talking of releasing information on a mysterious " top secret directive . " With Veld back in command , the Turks defeat the AVALANCHE forces . When Veld is revealed to be a traitor , Heidegger retakes the command of the Turks . " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " . Heidegger does not appear in - game , but he is the one who takes command of SOLDIER following another traitor to Shinra , Lazard Deusericus , the former head of the organization ' s departure . " Final Fantasy VII " . Heidegger works under President Shinra , and agrees to the plan to drop the plate upon Sector 7 to destroy the second , far less ruthless AVALANCHE organization . He is at the meeting with the Shinra executives that decides the plans for Neo Midgar , but leaves the Shinra Headquarters before Sephiroth appears . Surviving the attack from Sephiroth , Heidegger works closely with his successor , the President ' s son , Rufus Shinra . Heidegger puts together Rufus ' s inauguration celebration in Junon , and accompanies him during Shinra ' s hunt for Sephiroth . Heidegger is onboard the cargo ship heading to Costa del Sol , but unbeknown to them , both Sephiroth and Cloud ' s party are also on board as stowaways . After Rufus discovers it he tells Heidegger he messed up big time . The embarrassed executive responds by throwing locals into the sea in frustration . Heidegger is not seen with Rufus again until the executives arrive at North Crater on the " Highwind " in search of the Promised Land . Heidegger survives the Diamond Weapon ' s attack upon Midgar , and joins forces with Scarlet in the ensuing chaos . When Rufus Shinra is presumed dead , Heidegger and Scarlet plan to take over the company and strip Reeve Tuesti , another Shinra executive , from power . Together they fight Cloud ' s party on a giant robot called the Proud Clod , but when the machine is destroyed , it explodes , seemingly killing Heidegger and Scarlet . " Dirge of Cerberus - Final Fantasy VII - " . Heidegger is mentioned briefly in " Dirge of Cerberus " , when Reeve notes he was one of the only Shinra executives privy to the secrets of Deepground . Etymology . Heidegger ' s name may derive from Martin Heidegger .