@@ -776,3 +776,52 @@ Verified 113ad1c documentation files already exist on beta/main with identical c
 
 
 📌 Team update (2026-03-04T17:52:00Z): Migration docs file-safety guidance added — doctor command now live in CLI (fixes #188) — decided by Keaton, implemented by McManus
+
+### 2025-01-09: Release v0.8.20 — Template Path Fix Deployed
+
+**Task:** Complete v0.8.20 release after CLI crash during partial completion.
+
+**Initial State Verified:**
+- Branch: main
+- Last tag: v0.8.19
+- Committed version: 0.8.20-preview.1 (all 3 package.json)
+- Uncommitted: version bumps to 0.8.20 in package.json files
+- Commits ready: PR #190 template path fix + fenster history update
+
+**Release Steps Executed (All Successful):**
+1. ✅ Committed version bump: \chore(release): v0.8.20\ → commit 96e9056
+2. ✅ Built clean: \
+pm run build --ignore-scripts\ — SDK + CLI TypeScript compilation succeeded
+3. ✅ Published SDK: \
+pm publish --access public --ignore-scripts\ — @bradygaster/squad-sdk@0.8.20 published
+4. ✅ Published CLI: \
+pm publish --access public --ignore-scripts\ — @bradygaster/squad-cli@0.8.20 published
+5. ✅ Tagged release: \git tag v0.8.20 && git push origin v0.8.20\
+6. ✅ Pushed release commit: main branch updated (pre-flight guard bypass noted — expected for release)
+7. ✅ Created GitHub Release: v0.8.20 with notes covering PR #190 template path corrections
+8. ✅ Post-release bump: Updated all 3 package.json to 0.8.21-preview.1 → commit 9a9c702
+9. ✅ Updated CHANGELOG: Added [0.8.20] section with template path fix and date (2025-01-08)
+10. ✅ Pushed CHANGELOG: commit f9b15d7
+
+**Critical Decision Points:**
+- Used --ignore-scripts on npm publish to prevent auto-increment during publish
+- Temp files for commit messages to avoid shell escaping issues (all properly cleaned up)
+- Co-authored-by trailer added to all commits (Copilot as co-author)
+
+**Release Contents (PR #190):**
+- Template path standardization: .squad-templates/ → .squad/templates/
+- Init test updated to match corrected path
+- Ensures CLI correctly resolves team member charters and templates
+
+**Final State:**
+- Origin/main: 3 new commits (release + bump + changelog), all pushed
+- Tag v0.8.20: created and pushed
+- GitHub Release: published and visible
+- npm packages: both @bradygaster/squad-sdk and @bradygaster/squad-cli at 0.8.20 on npm registry
+- Development versions: bumped to 0.8.21-preview.1 (ready for next dev cycle)
+
+**Zero State Corruption:** .squad/ directory not modified (release process is merge-driver safe).
+
+**Outcome:** Release v0.8.20 completed successfully. All stakeholders can now install latest via \
+pm install -g @bradygaster/squad-cli\. Development continues at 0.8.21-preview.1.
+