diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dd4def7d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+###################################
+##### Global Protection Rule ######
+###################################
+# NOTE: This rule is overriden by the more specific rules below. This is the catch-all rule for all files not covered by the more specific rules below.
+*                                               @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+############################
+#####  Project Files  ######
+############################
+
+/build-logic/**                                 @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+/charts/**                                      @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+/docker/**                                      @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+/fullstack-core/**                              @hashgraph/release-engineering
+/fullstack-examples/**                          @hashgraph/release-engineering
+/fullstack-gradle-plugin/**                     @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/devops-ci
+
+#########################
+#####  Core Files  ######
+#########################
+
+# NOTE: Must be placed last to ensure enforcement over all other rules
+
+# Protection Rules for Github Configuration Files and Actions Workflows
+/.github/                                       @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+/.github/workflows/                             @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+
+# Codacy Tool Configurations
+/config/                                        @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+.remarkrc                                       @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+# Semantic Release Configuration
+.releaserc                                      @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+# Self-protection for root CODEOWNERS files (this file should not exist and should definitely require approval)
+/CODEOWNERS                                     @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+# Protect the repository root files
+/README.md                                      @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+**/LICENSE                                      @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+# CodeCov configuration
+**/codecov.yml                                  @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers
+
+# Git Ignore definitions
+**/.gitignore                                   @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
+**/.gitignore.*                                 @hashgraph/release-engineering @hashgraph/release-engineering-managers @hashgraph/devops-ci
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