Origin[]
The Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division, also known as S.H.I.E.L.D. for short is a scientific research, intelligence, and law enforcement agency created by the United States of America. Founded in the 1950's, shortly after the end World War II, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the successor organization to the Strategic Science Reserve also known as the S.S.R. which was founded during the war to combat the Nazi science division, which was HYDRA. Then after the war the S.S.R. continued the mission they were created for. But with the changing times, specifically the start of the Cold War, those involved with the S.S.R. decided it needed to grow and change with the times. As such S.H.I.E.L.D. began to take shape. The formation of the organization spearheaded by the director of the S.S.R. US army general Chester Phillips, scientist and industrialist Howard Stark, S.S.R. agent Margaret "Peggy" Carter, and finally former member of the Howling Commandos and decorated soldier and wartime hero General Nicholas Fury Sr.
Reign of the Fury's[]
After S.H.I.E.L.D. was successfully established its first true director was none other than Nick Fury Sr. Who spent most of his directorship growing the organization into what people would know it as in the modern era. He also established many of the organizations connection, especially with foreign powers and sister agencies such as the European Defense Initiative and S.T.R.I.K.E. However as the years continued to pass and the dawn of a new era came upon the world Fury Sr. decided S.H.I.E.L.D. needed new leadership to see it into the 21st century, and help us grow and evolve. So with that he retired and passed directorship of the organization onto his son, Nicholas Fury Jr. A man who had more than proven he was qualified for the position.
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After Fury Jr. took over as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director the agency went through several major changes, including becoming more militaristic than it had in the past. This due not only to the rise in terrorism such as with the 9/11 attacks, but also due to the rise of super powered and superhuman individuals. Which in response to the bosses of Fury and the overseers of S.H.I.E.L.D.,the World Security Council, authorized the creation of laws that outlawed genetic modification, unless conducted by government organizations such as the military, and tasked Fury Jr. and S.H.I.E.L.D. with enforcing them. Which they did.
But on the flip side, seeing how many superhuman threats were emerging Fury Jr. made one of the first biggest decisions of his directorship and restarted Project: Rebirth under S.H.I.E.L.D. direct supervision and jurisdiction, in hopes of finally re-creating the legendary Super-Soldier serum that gave birth to Captain America. To achieve this Fury recruited several top scientists to work on the project including Hank Pym, Janet Van Dyne, Bruce Banner, along with several others.
Though despite his drive and ingenuity Fury Jr. plans did not go at all how he expected. Dr. Banner was poached by the military and ended up creating what would become known as the Hulk when he tried to use Gamma Radiation to re-create the serum. Meanwhile most of the other top scientists in the project also abandoned it, the Parkers suddenly dying, meanwhile Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne abandoned it together in the wake of the racism the latter faced after her identity as a Mutant was exposed. So faced with so many setbacks Fury Jr. lowered the funding of the project. That is until 2008 when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter discovered Captain America himself while on a mission to recover the Valkyrie from the Artic Circle. Which also stilled housed the powerful Tesseract. After learning of these facts Fury began pouring more of S.H.I.E.L.D. into R&D, especially after he and his colleagues learned they were not the only intelligent life forms in the galaxy. First by their meeting with Thor and the other Asgardians in the New Mexico desert. Then by Fury personally when assisted Maria Rambeau, Carol Danvers, and the Kree Mar-Vell in protecting a faction of Skrull from Mar-Vell's own people. After learning of these incidents the World Security Council ordered Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. to begin Phase 2. Which they did. But the younger Fury never put much stock on that and instead decided to henge his bets on a program started by his father, known as the Avengers Initiative. Which he right to bet on, as in 2010 the Initiative was activated and gave birth to the Avengers who then subsequently saved the world from an invasion by Loki. Where after the battle occured Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. put their full support behind the newly formed Avengers, aiding them from one conflict to the next. That is until 2014 when Fury Jr. and his closest allies learned the organization HYDRA was in fact most of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Upon discovering this they made the decision to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. and thereby HYDRA by uploading all of the organizations classified files to the internet. After which S.H.IE.L.D. in its entirety was disavowed and many of its agents were declared terrorists. But not Fury Jr., who after the sacrifice of his father during the Battle of the Triskelion, decided to hunt down those responsible. But he also knew in his heart that the world still needed S.H.I.E.L.D. so with that he handed directorship over to his best friend, Phillip Coulson.
Phillip Coulson Directorship[]
Under Coulson's directorship S.H.I.E.L.D. went through what would be its most trying time. Disavowed and hunted by every other official agency in the entire world. But despite facing such odds Coulson did not give up and instead led the organization and his personal team to many victories, the first of which was against John Garrett and Grant Ward. Then after this they battled and defeated many leaders and factions of HYRDA that sprang about on the aftermath of the HYDRA Uprising. They also made new allies in the form of the people known as Inhumans. First with the Inhumans of Earth associated with the community known as Afterlife, after defeating its radical leader Jiang and her followers. Then they ended up establishing friendly relations with the Inhumans of the moon City of Attilan. Who aided them in defeating Gideon Malick HYDRA faction, and the founder of the organization itself the ancient and deadly Inhuman Hive. Then after the events of the Ultimate Alliance War Coulson voluntarily stepped down from leading the organization, since it was finally being re-legitimized. Which S.H.I.E.L.D. did under the leadership of their next director, Jeffrey Mace.
Jeffery Mace Directorship[]
Unlike his predecessor Maces' directorship of S.H.I.E.L.D. was marred by instability. Since right after he was inducted as the leader of the organization he had to lead it through the turbulent times created as a direct result of the Ultimate Alliance War, which was the Superhuman Civil War and then the Secret Invasion conducted by the alien shapeshifting race known as the Skrulls. Then after these events concluded Mace found himself losing his position as S.H.I.E.L.D. was once again disbanded and replaced with H.A.M.M.E.R. in the very earliest days of Norman Osborn Dark Reign. Where Mace then found himself working with other former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and underground heroes in taking down Osborn and dropping his reign of terror. Which happened in the summer of 2017 directly following the siege and battle of Asgard. Leading to Mace earning back his directorship of S.H.I.E.L.D. as it was once again re-legitimized. Though he didn't have any time to truly cement his leadership position before the harrowing events of the Infinity Saga began and he, along with many others, were wiped from existence due to the actions of the Mad Titan Thanos in mid 2018. Not finding himself back until a year and a half later in 2020. Where Mace then led S.H.I.E.L.D. in the fight against a new terrorist organization known as the Watchdogs. Which was one of his last great acts before losing his life in the Fall of 2022 during the early days of the Inteligencia War. However despite this Mace was honored just as much as any of the other previous directors of S.H.I.E.L.D. since he always held true to the organizations ideals, no matter what circumstances he faced. A thing his successor, Daisy Johnson would take to heart. Despite her less than stellar relationship with Mace.
Daisy Johnson Directorship[]
Given Maces' sudden death during the onset of the Inteligencia War deputy director Maria Hill was named leader of S.H.I.E.L.D until the conflict came to an end. After which she then stepped down, paving the way for Daisy to take her place. Who over the years since joining S.H.I.E.L.D. had distinguished herself time and time again. Giving her placement as director legitimacy, especially with the likes of agents Phil Coulson and Melinda May backing her. The former having a actually started to groom her to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. one day back during the HYDRA Uprising. Since he saw amazing potential in her. One which Daisy displayed as she ushered in an entirely new era for S.H.I.E.L.D. just as all her predecessors had done.