S.W.O.R.D. (an acronym for Sentient World Observation and Response Department) is a counter terrorism and intelligence agency which deals with extraterrestrial threats to world security. S.W.O.R.D. is a subdivision of the better known S.H.I.E.L.D. but appears to be largely autonomous of its parent organization. Since the departure of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the infiltration of HYDRA, relations between the two organizations have become strained.