Organizations in MacGyver

There are various fictional organizations in the American television series MacGyver.

Department of External Services

The DXS is a U.S. intelligence agency where MacGyver and Peter Thornton are employed during the first season. It is revealed that MacGyver had been working there since 1979, when he was recruited by Pete.^[1] At the beginning of Season 2, both of them leave for the Phoenix Foundation, but DXS agents still reappear throughout the series, sometimes as allies and sometimes as antagonists. While in their employ, MacGyver was usually sent overseas to rescue Americans in danger, locate or destroy sensitive equipment, or ordinary intelligence-gathering operations; however, other sections of the DXS are much more susceptible to corruption and have been seen trying to kidnap foreign heads of state^[2] or interfering with democratic elections,^[3] among other things.

Phoenix Foundation

A non-profit think tank and government contractor which employs Peter Thornton (as Director of Field Operations) and MacGyver (as field agent and "troubleshooter") in Seasons 2 through 7. It often cooperates with government agencies, particularly the police or intelligence community (since as MacGyver puts it, "we don't have to cut through as much red tape").^[4] However it also does a great deal of work on its own; environmental surveys and clean-up operations, anti-drug initiatives, social programs, etc. The Phoenix Foundation is described as a "corporate white knight,"^[5] an entity which is trusted and respected by the general public for its integrity. One of the organization's main aims during the 1980s and early 1990s was the expansion and furthering of new technologies within the United States, such as computer applications and systems, applied biosciences, and other socially responsible uses of technology.

Located initially in a single high security building designed and built by Lawton Enterprises, we later saw that the foundation had another separate facility which seemed to consist entirely of underground laboratories. Both buildings were very hi-tech, both in design and incorporated systems, from security right through to an apparently very accurate stock inventory system. This high security afforded the foundation the ability to provide secure research and development facilities to military, who enlisted the foundations help in a number of projects.

The Phoenix Foundation was active in many areas of research and development other than military; these included such things as law enforcement, environmental research and protection initiatives, public assistance programs such as hearing restoration for the deaf. They also provided other consultation services such as mediation and negotiation, witness protection reassignment, environmental impact consultation to name but a few.

A number of foundation staff were ex-DXS agents who saw the foundation as a way of continuing the peace process they started at the DXS. Most of them maintained their security clearance levels which aided the foundation's abilities to work around red tape and politics to get speedy results where other agencies wouldn’t be able to. It has been speculated that the “Western Division,” seen on some of the foundation's signs, would indicate that it has various satellite departments around the country and possibly even worldwide, although this was never confirmed in any episode.

Homicide International Trust

Appropriately shorthanded to "HIT," they are an international fraternity of assassins, employing killers from around the world to carry out their contracts. Murdoc was employed by them until he tried to retire; the organization reacted by putting a hit on him, forcing him to ask for MacGyver's help in order to save himself and his sister. He later tries to rejoin their ranks, and is rejected when he tries and fails to kill MacGyver (again).

Challengers' Club

A Boys & Girls Club that provides shelter for inner-city kids in need of help (recovering drug addicts, former prostitutes, orphans). It was founded by Booker and Cynthia Wilson, and by the end of the series was run solely by Cynthia (after her husband was killed by a neighborhood racist in the season 4 episode "The Challenge"). MacGyver is often involved with them and will sometimes use his connections in the Phoenix Foundation to secure funding or other forms of help.

References