diff --git a/.gitea/pull_request_templates/default.md b/.gitea/pull_request_templates/default.md
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+## Description
+
+Brief description of the changes in this PR.
+
+## Related Issue
+
+Closes: FRE-XXXX
+
+## Code Review Checklist
+
+- [ ] Security impact assessment
+- [ ] Test coverage verification
+- [ ] Type checking (TypeScript)
+- [ ] Linting compliance
+- [ ] Documentation updates
+- [ ] Breaking changes documented
+- [ ] Backward compatibility verified
+
+## Review Assignment
+
+| Change Type | Required Reviewers |
+|-------------|-------------------|
+| General code | Code Reviewer |
+| Security-critical | Code Reviewer + Security Reviewer |
+| API contracts | Code Reviewer + CTO |
+| Database schema | Code Reviewer + Senior Engineer |
+
+## Testing
+
+Describe how the changes were tested.
+
+## Screenshots / Logs
+
+(If applicable)
diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
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+++ b/CODEOWNERS
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+# CODEOWNERS
+# This file defines ownership of directories and files
+# Rules are evaluated from top to bottom; first match wins
+
+# Senior Engineer owns all TypeScript source files
+*.ts     @senior-engineer
+*.tsx    @senior-engineer
+
+# Founding Engineer owns architecture and configuration
+*.config.*  @founding-engineer
+*.json      @founding-engineer
+
+# Security Reviewer owns security-critical paths
+**/auth/**       @security-reviewer
+**/middleware/**  @security-reviewer
+
+# Code Reviewer reviews all Pull Requests
+*      @code-reviewer
diff --git a/shared/branch-protection-rules.yaml b/shared/branch-protection-rules.yaml
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+++ b/shared/branch-protection-rules.yaml
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+# Branch Protection Rules for FrenoCorp Repository
+# Apply via Gitea web UI: Repository Settings > Branches > Protect Branch
+# Or via Gitea API: PUT /repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}/protection
+
+branch: gt/master
+settings:
+  protected: true
+  push:
+    enforced_users: []
+    excluded_users: []
+    block_pushes: false
+    only_allow_whitelist: false
+  protection:
+    enforce_branch_name: false
+    strict_history:
+      strict: false
+      allowed_types: []
+      discrete_bytes_enabled: false
+      block_out_of_order_files: false
+  pull_request:
+    strict_approvals:
+      strict: false
+      dismiss_stale: false
+      approval_labels: []
+    required_approvals: 1
+    required_reviewer_amount: 0
+    dismiss_pr_merge: true
+    automergetype: 1
+    auto_merge_allowed_user: []
+    auto_merge_allowed_team: []
+  status:
+    strict_status:
+      strict: false
+      contexts:
+        - lint
+        - typecheck
+        - test
+      min_runs: 0
+      max_build_pending: 0
+      max_build_pending_user: []
+      max_build_pending_team: []
+    strict_branches:
+      strict: false
+      branches: []
+  assignee:
+    enforce_assignee: false
+    total_assignees: 0
+  administrator:
+    enforce_admins: false
+  push_force:
+    allow_force_push: true
+    force_push_roles:
+      owner: true
+      maintainer: true
+  push_merge:
+    allow_merge_commits: true
+    allow_squash_merge: true
+    allow_rebase: true
+    allow_rebase_expanded: true
+    allow_ff: true
+    allow_ff_only: false
+    default_merge_style: 1
+    merge_title: 0
+    merge_content_body: 0
+  file_extension:
+    blocked_extensions: []
+  max_unchanged_commits: 0
+  max_file_size: 0
+  max_changed_files: 0
+  max_filediff_size: 0
+  max_diff_files_to_stat: 0
diff --git a/shared/shieldai-workflow.md b/shared/shieldai-workflow.md
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+++ b/shared/shieldai-workflow.md
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+# ShieldAI Code Review Workflow
+
+## Current State (as of May 2, 2026)
+
+### PR Backlog Status
+- **Open PRs**: 0 (pending commits pushed to master)
+- **Pending commits**: 1 commit pushed (FRE-4604) — remaining 6 were previously pushed
+- **Last review cycle**: FRE-4500, FRE-4499, FRE-4612 (security findings — all done)
+- **Branch protection**: Configured (see `branch-protection-rules.yaml`)
+- **PR template**: Configured (`.gitea/pull_request_templates/default.md`)
+
+### Resolved Bottlenecks
+1. ✅ PR-based workflow established with PR template
+2. ✅ Branch protection rules documented and configured
+3. ✅ Code review checklist integrated into PR template
+4. ✅ Security review findings integrated (FRE-4499, FRE-4500, FRE-4612 all done)
+
+## PR Process
+
+1. **Feature branch creation** from `gt/master`
+2. **Development commits** with conventional commit format (include issue ID: `FRE-XXXX: description`)
+3. **PR creation** against `gt/master`
+4. **Required reviews**:
+   - Code Reviewer — all PRs
+   - Security Reviewer — for security-sensitive changes
+5. **CI checks** pass (lint, typecheck, test)
+6. **Merge** via squash or rebase
+
+### Code Review Checklist
+
+- [ ] Security impact assessment
+- [ ] Test coverage verification
+- [ ] Type checking (TypeScript)
+- [ ] Linting compliance
+- [ ] Documentation updates
+- [ ] Breaking changes documented
+- [ ] Backward compatibility verified
+
+### Branch Protection Rules
+
+See `branch-protection-rules.yaml` for the full configuration. Summary:
+
+- **Protected branch**: `gt/master`
+- **Required reviews**: 1 approved review before merge
+- **Required status checks**: lint, typecheck, test
+- **Enforce admins**: false (admins can bypass during emergencies)
+- **Allow force pushes**: true (for recovery scenarios)
+
+## Review Assignment Policy
+
+| Change Type | Required Reviewers |
+|-------------|-------------------|
+| General code | Code Reviewer |
+| Security-critical | Code Reviewer + Security Reviewer |
+| API contracts | Code Reviewer + CTO |
+| Database schema | Code Reviewer + Senior Engineer |
+
+## Review Pipeline
+
+```
+Engineer implements → marks in_review → Security Reviewer reviews → Code Reviewer reviews → Done
+```
+
+## Metrics to Track
+
+- PR cycle time (creation to merge)
+- Review turnaround time
+- PR size (lines changed)
+- Review comments per PR
+- Merge conflict frequency
+
+## Contribution Guidelines
+
+1. Always create a feature branch from `gt/master`
+2. Use conventional commit format: `type(scope): description (FRE-XXXX)`
+3. Include tests for new functionality
+4. Update documentation for API changes
+5. Run lint and typecheck before pushing
+6. Create PR with filled template before requesting review
+7. Address all review comments before merge
+
+---
+*Updated from FRE-4556 audit, implemented in FRE-4661*