S.H.I.E.L.D. came about from the Muir's need to create an organization to oversee the defense of Muir assets througout the galaxy. The name was derived from Tej Muir's personal ship, the Shield. They didn't bother with a backcronym, allowing their enemies to ponder what it stood for. S.H.I.E.L.D. would later be restructured as part of the Muir Commonwealth after the Battle of Eldari Prime and the subsequent end of the Muir-Eldari War.