diff --git a/skills/release-branch-policy/SKILL.md b/skills/release-branch-policy/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..662015c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/release-branch-policy/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+# Skill: release-branch-policy
+
+## Purpose
+
+Standardize release branch policy across Cloud-Neutral Toolkit repos:
+
+- `main` is the **preview** branch (fast iteration, integrates frequently).
+- `release/*` branches are **production release lines** and must be protected.
+- Updates to `release/*` happen via **local cherry-pick** by release managers (process gate).
+
+This skill includes:
+- A policy doc (this file)
+- A ruleset JSON template (GitHub Rulesets API)
+- A `gh` script to apply the ruleset to one or many repos
+- A sync script to copy this skill into all local sub-repos
+- A script to generate a cross-repo release manifest (for tag association)
+
+Non-goals:
+- This skill does NOT create/push `release/v0.1` or tags automatically.
+
+## Policy
+
+### Branch Roles
+
+- `main`: preview
+  - Accepts PRs and merges normally.
+  - May be ahead of production at any time.
+- `release/*`: production
+  - No force-push.
+  - Require linear history.
+  - Prefer "cherry-pick into release branch" as the only change mechanism (process).
+  - Restrict who can update release branches to release managers (enforced via GitHub Rulesets/Branch protection UI).
+
+### “Cherry-Pick Only” Clarification
+
+GitHub branch rules cannot reliably guarantee "only cherry-pick" as a technical constraint.
+We treat it as a **process rule**:
+
+1. A change lands in `main`.
+2. Release manager cherry-picks specific commits onto `release/<version>`.
+3. Release manager pushes the updated release branch.
+
+### “No PR / No Push” Clarification
+
+If you literally forbid both:
+- PR merges to `release/*`, and
+- any push to `release/*`
+
+then the branch becomes non-updatable.
+
+What we implement is:
+- No force-push, no deletion, linear history (enforceable).
+- Only release managers can update `release/*` (enforceable via "restrict updates" / bypass actors).
+- "Cherry-pick only" (process rule).
+
+### Tags
+
+For milestone releases like `v0.1`:
+- Use an annotated tag named `v0.1` (per-repo).
+- Prefer tags on `release/<version>` tip.
+
+If you need SemVer tags, follow governance: `<repo>-vX.Y.Z`.
+
+### Cross-Repo Tag Association
+
+Git tags are per-repo; GitHub does not provide a first-class "one tag links all repos" concept.
+
+We represent "release v0.1 across repos" by committing a **release manifest** file in the control repo, generated from local git state:
+- repo name
+- release branch tip SHA
+- tag tip SHA
+
+Use: `skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/generate_release_manifest.sh v0.1`
+
+## Ruleset Requirements (release/*)
+
+Enforce at minimum:
+- block deletion
+- block force-push (non-fast-forward)
+- require linear history
+
+Optional (recommended if you have stable CI):
+- require status checks
+- require signed commits
+
+## Tools
+
+### 1) Apply Ruleset (GitHub Rulesets)
+
+Script: `skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/apply_ruleset.sh`
+
+- Applies (create/update) a repo ruleset targeting `refs/heads/release/*`
+- Uses `gh api` and a JSON payload
+- Does not modify branches/tags
+
+### 2) Sync Skill Into All Local Sub-Repos
+
+Script: `skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/sync_skill_to_subrepos.sh`
+
+- Copies this skill folder into each local repo under `/Users/shenlan/workspaces/cloud-neutral-toolkit/*`
+- Skips repos without `.git`
+- Keeps existing files unless overwritten explicitly
+
+### 3) Generate Release Manifest (Cross-Repo Association)
+
+Script: `skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/generate_release_manifest.sh`
+
+- Generates `releases/<version>.yaml` in the current working directory (default)
+- Does not push or create refs
+
+## Operator Checklist
+
+- Confirm `main` is treated as preview across repos (docs + CI naming).
+- Apply ruleset to every repo that has production releases.
+- Document "cherry-pick only" in release runbooks.
+- Verify bypass actors (release managers) in GitHub UI if needed.
diff --git a/skills/release-branch-policy/references/ruleset.release-branches.json b/skills/release-branch-policy/references/ruleset.release-branches.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac7757e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/release-branch-policy/references/ruleset.release-branches.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "name": "Release Branch Protection (release/*)",
+  "target": "branch",
+  "enforcement": "active",
+  "conditions": {
+    "ref_name": {
+      "include": ["refs/heads/release/*"],
+      "exclude": []
+    }
+  },
+  "rules": [
+    { "type": "deletion" },
+    { "type": "non_fast_forward" },
+    { "type": "required_linear_history" }
+  ]
+}
+
diff --git a/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/apply_ruleset.sh b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/apply_ruleset.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..786aa3dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/apply_ruleset.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'EOF'
+Apply GitHub Ruleset to protect release/* branches.
+
+Usage:
+  apply_ruleset.sh <owner/repo> [<owner/repo> ...]
+
+Notes:
+  - Requires: gh (authenticated), jq
+  - Does NOT create/push branches or tags.
+  - Ruleset payload is in: skills/release-branch-policy/references/ruleset.release-branches.json
+EOF
+}
+
+if [[ $# -lt 1 || "${1:-}" == "-h" || "${1:-}" == "--help" ]]; then
+  usage
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+if ! command -v gh >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "missing: gh" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if ! command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "missing: jq" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+SKILL_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+PAYLOAD_FILE="${SKILL_DIR}/references/ruleset.release-branches.json"
+
+if [[ ! -f "${PAYLOAD_FILE}" ]]; then
+  echo "payload not found: ${PAYLOAD_FILE}" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+NAME="$(jq -r '.name' < "${PAYLOAD_FILE}")"
+
+for OWNER_REPO in "$@"; do
+  echo ">>> ${OWNER_REPO}"
+
+  # Find existing ruleset by name.
+  existing_id="$(
+    gh api "repos/${OWNER_REPO}/rulesets" --jq ".[] | select(.name == \"${NAME}\") | .id" 2>/dev/null || true
+  )"
+
+  if [[ -n "${existing_id}" ]]; then
+    echo "Updating ruleset id=${existing_id}"
+    gh api -X PUT "repos/${OWNER_REPO}/rulesets/${existing_id}" --input "${PAYLOAD_FILE}" >/dev/null
+  else
+    echo "Creating ruleset"
+    gh api -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" -X POST "repos/${OWNER_REPO}/rulesets" --input "${PAYLOAD_FILE}" >/dev/null
+  fi
+done
diff --git a/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/generate_release_manifest.sh b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/generate_release_manifest.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..d2ca661e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/generate_release_manifest.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'EOF'
+Generate a cross-repo release manifest (read-only) from local git state.
+
+Usage:
+  generate_release_manifest.sh <version> [--base <dir>] [--out <file>]
+
+Examples:
+  generate_release_manifest.sh v0.1
+  generate_release_manifest.sh v0.1 --out releases/v0.1.yaml
+  generate_release_manifest.sh v0.1 --base /Users/shenlan/workspaces/cloud-neutral-toolkit
+
+Notes:
+  - This script does NOT create/push branches or tags.
+  - It inspects local refs only; if your local remotes are stale, run 'git fetch --all --tags' per repo first.
+  - "Cross-repo association" is represented by this manifest file (repo -> release branch tip + tag tip).
+EOF
+}
+
+if [[ $# -lt 1 || "${1:-}" == "-h" || "${1:-}" == "--help" ]]; then
+  usage
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+VERSION="$1"
+shift || true
+
+BASE="/Users/shenlan/workspaces/cloud-neutral-toolkit"
+OUT=""
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --base)
+      BASE="${2:-}"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    --out)
+      OUT="${2:-}"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "unknown arg: $1" >&2
+      usage >&2
+      exit 2
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+if [[ -z "${OUT}" ]]; then
+  mkdir -p "releases"
+  OUT="releases/${VERSION}.yaml"
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -d "${BASE}" ]]; then
+  echo "missing base dir: ${BASE}" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+REL_BRANCH="release/${VERSION}"
+
+tmp="$(mktemp)"
+trap 'rm -f "$tmp"' EXIT
+
+{
+  echo "version: ${VERSION}"
+  echo "generated_at_utc: \"$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)\""
+  echo "base_dir: \"${BASE}\""
+  echo "release_branch: \"${REL_BRANCH}\""
+  echo "repos:"
+} >"$tmp"
+
+for d in "${BASE}"/*; do
+  [[ -d "$d" ]] || continue
+  [[ -d "$d/.git" ]] || continue
+
+  name="$(basename "$d")"
+  remote_url="$(cd "$d" && git config --get remote.origin.url 2>/dev/null || true)"
+
+  rel_ref=""
+  rel_sha=""
+  if (cd "$d" && git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/${REL_BRANCH}"); then
+    rel_ref="refs/remotes/origin/${REL_BRANCH}"
+    rel_sha="$(cd "$d" && git rev-parse "refs/remotes/origin/${REL_BRANCH}")"
+  elif (cd "$d" && git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${REL_BRANCH}"); then
+    rel_ref="refs/heads/${REL_BRANCH}"
+    rel_sha="$(cd "$d" && git rev-parse "refs/heads/${REL_BRANCH}")"
+  fi
+
+  tag_sha=""
+  if (cd "$d" && git show-ref --tags --quiet --verify "refs/tags/${VERSION}"); then
+    tag_sha="$(cd "$d" && git rev-parse "${VERSION}^{}" 2>/dev/null || git rev-parse "${VERSION}" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  fi
+
+  {
+    echo "  - name: \"${name}\""
+    echo "    path: \"${d}\""
+    if [[ -n "${remote_url}" ]]; then
+      echo "    remote: \"${remote_url}\""
+    else
+      echo "    remote: \"\""
+    fi
+    echo "    release:"
+    echo "      branch: \"${REL_BRANCH}\""
+    echo "      ref: \"${rel_ref}\""
+    echo "      sha: \"${rel_sha}\""
+    echo "    tag:"
+    echo "      name: \"${VERSION}\""
+    echo "      sha: \"${tag_sha}\""
+  } >>"$tmp"
+done
+
+mv "$tmp" "$OUT"
+echo "wrote: ${OUT}"
diff --git a/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/sync_skill_to_subrepos.sh b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/sync_skill_to_subrepos.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..73f32e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/release-branch-policy/scripts/sync_skill_to_subrepos.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'EOF'
+Copy this skill into all local Cloud-Neutral Toolkit sub-repos.
+
+Usage:
+  sync_skill_to_subrepos.sh
+
+Copies:
+  skills/release-branch-policy -> <repo>/skills/release-branch-policy
+
+Notes:
+  - Local path root: /Users/shenlan/workspaces/cloud-neutral-toolkit
+  - Skips directories without .git
+EOF
+}
+
+if [[ "${1:-}" == "-h" || "${1:-}" == "--help" ]]; then
+  usage
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+SRC_SKILL="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+SRC_REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SRC_SKILL}/../.." && pwd)"
+
+realpath_py() {
+  python3 - "$1" <<'PY'
+import os, sys
+print(os.path.realpath(sys.argv[1]))
+PY
+}
+
+BASE="/Users/shenlan/workspaces/cloud-neutral-toolkit"
+if [[ ! -d "${BASE}" ]]; then
+  echo "missing base dir: ${BASE}" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+for d in "${BASE}"/*; do
+  [[ -d "$d" ]] || continue
+  [[ -d "$d/.git" ]] || continue
+
+  # Don't delete our own source while syncing.
+  if [[ "$(realpath_py "$d")" == "$(realpath_py "$SRC_REPO_ROOT")" ]]; then
+    echo ">>> skipping source repo $d"
+    continue
+  fi
+
+  mkdir -p "$d/skills"
+  echo ">>> syncing to $d"
+  rm -rf "$d/skills/release-branch-policy"
+  cp -R "${SRC_SKILL}" "$d/skills/release-branch-policy"
+done