A heat shield for a rotor in a turbine engine is provided. The heat shield includes a main body having a first pair of recesses. The first pair of recesses is adapted to fit around a portion of one or more rotor blades or between two axially adjacent rotor wheels. The first pair of recesses limits axial and radial movement of the heat shield by interaction with the rotor blades or by interaction with the two axially adjacent rotor wheels. The first pair of recesses engage axially adjacent rotor blades or the axially adjacent rotor wheels. The heat shield protects the rotor from hot gas.