diff --git a/frontend/background-issue-sync.js b/frontend/background-issue-sync.js
index 18008b1..74b0fcc 100644
--- a/frontend/background-issue-sync.js
+++ b/frontend/background-issue-sync.js
@@ -446,6 +446,7 @@ function createBackgroundIssueSync({
           title: item.title,
           body: item.body,
           label_ids: item.labelIds,
+          ...(item.assignee ? { assignee: item.assignee } : {}),
           ...(item.milestoneId ? { milestone_id: item.milestoneId } : {}),
           ...(item.dueDate ? { due_date: item.dueDate + 'T23:59:59Z' } : {}),
         }),
diff --git a/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js b/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
index ee63d05..19c7d19 100644
--- a/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
+++ b/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
@@ -19,6 +19,90 @@ function normalizeSharedContent(value = {}) {
   return { title, body };
 }
 
+function createIssueOwnerPicker(issueCapture, documentRef, onChange) {
+  const select = documentRef.querySelector('#create-issue-assignee');
+  const status = documentRef.querySelector('#create-issue-assignee-status');
+  const getRepository = () => documentRef.querySelector('#create-issue-repository').value;
+  const loadOwners = repository => issueCapture.loadOwners(repository);
+  let ownerRequest = 0;
+  function reset(repository, selected = {}) {
+    select.replaceChildren();
+    const me = documentRef.createElement('option');
+    me.value = '';
+    me.textContent = 'Me';
+    select.appendChild(me);
+    if (selected.assignee) {
+      const option = documentRef.createElement('option');
+      option.value = selected.assignee;
+      option.textContent = (selected.assigneeName || selected.assignee) + ' (@' + selected.assignee + ')';
+      option.dataset.name = selected.assigneeName || selected.assignee;
+      select.appendChild(option);
+      select.value = selected.assignee;
+    }
+    select.dataset.repository = '';
+    status.textContent = repository ? 'Open the owner picker to load eligible teammates.' : 'Choose a repository first.';
+  }
+
+  async function load(repository) {
+    if (!repository || select.dataset.repository === repository) return;
+    const request = ++ownerRequest;
+    const selected = select.value;
+    const selectedName = select.selectedOptions?.[0]?.dataset.name || '';
+    status.textContent = 'Loading eligible teammates…';
+    try {
+      const owners = await loadOwners(repository);
+      if (request !== ownerRequest || getRepository() !== repository) return;
+      const selectedStillEligible = owners.some(owner => owner?.login === selected);
+      reset(repository, selectedStillEligible ? {assignee:selected, assigneeName:selectedName} : {});
+      owners.forEach(owner => {
+        if (!owner?.login || owner.login === selected) return;
+        const option = documentRef.createElement('option');
+        option.value = owner.login;
+        option.textContent = (owner.name || owner.login) + ' (@' + owner.login + ')';
+        option.dataset.name = owner.name || owner.login;
+        select.appendChild(option);
+      });
+      select.dataset.repository = repository;
+      status.textContent = owners.length ? 'Choose yourself or an eligible teammate.' : 'No eligible teammates are available.';
+    } catch (_error) {
+      if (request !== ownerRequest || getRepository() !== repository) return;
+      status.textContent = 'Teammates could not be loaded. The issue will stay assigned to you.';
+    }
+  }
+  function updateActions(hasRepository, hasBlockers, canStart) {
+    const submit = documentRef.querySelector('#submit-new-issue');
+    const start = documentRef.querySelector('#create-and-start-issue');
+    const hasTeammateOwner = Boolean(select.value);
+    submit.disabled = !hasRepository;
+    submit.textContent = hasTeammateOwner ? 'Create & assign' : 'Create & assign to me';
+    start.disabled = !hasRepository || hasBlockers || hasTeammateOwner || !canStart;
+    start.title = hasBlockers ? 'Blocked work cannot start until its blockers are complete.' :
+      (hasTeammateOwner ? 'Work assigned to a teammate cannot be added to your Today queue.' : '');
+  }
+  function fields() {
+    return {
+      assignee: select.value,
+      assigneeName: select.selectedOptions?.[0]?.dataset.name || '',
+    };
+  }
+  function draft(labelIds, blockers, trim = false) {
+    const value = id => documentRef.querySelector(id).value;
+    const clean = input => trim ? input.trim() : input;
+    return {
+      repository:value('#create-issue-repository'),
+      title:clean(value('#create-issue-title')), body:clean(value('#create-issue-body')),
+      labelIds, milestoneId:Number(value('#create-issue-milestone')) || null,
+      dueDate:value('#create-issue-due-date'), ...fields(), blockers,
+    };
+  }
+  select.addEventListener('focus', () => {
+    const repository = getRepository();
+    if (repository) load(repository);
+  });
+  select.addEventListener('change', onChange);
+  return { reset, load, updateActions, fields, draft };
+}
+
 function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOperationId }) {
   const storageKey = 'stackchain.issue-capture.v1';
   const sharedStorageKey = 'stackchain.issue-share.v1';
@@ -51,6 +135,7 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
   const emptyDraft = () => ({ repository: '', title: '', body: '', labelIds: [] });
   const safeMilestoneId = value => Number.isInteger(Number(value)) && Number(value) > 0 ? Number(value) : null;
   const safeDueDate = value => /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.test(String(value || '')) ? String(value) : '';
+  const safeAssignee = value => /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/.test(String(value || '')) ? String(value) : '';
 
   function loadStored() {
     try {
@@ -63,6 +148,11 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
         labelIds: safeLabelIds(parsed.labelIds),
         operationId: String(parsed.operationId || '').slice(0, 128),
       };
+      const assignee = safeAssignee(parsed.assignee);
+      if (assignee) {
+        draft.assignee = assignee;
+        draft.assigneeName = String(parsed.assigneeName || assignee).replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim().slice(0, 255);
+      }
       const milestoneId = safeMilestoneId(parsed.milestoneId);
       const dueDate = safeDueDate(parsed.dueDate);
       if (milestoneId !== null) draft.milestoneId = milestoneId;
@@ -88,13 +178,18 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
       body: String(draft?.body || ''),
       labelIds: safeLabelIds(draft?.labelIds),
     };
+    const assignee = safeAssignee(draft?.assignee);
+    if (assignee) {
+      safe.assignee = assignee;
+      safe.assigneeName = String(draft?.assigneeName || assignee).replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim().slice(0, 255);
+    }
     const milestoneId = safeMilestoneId(draft?.milestoneId);
     const dueDate = safeDueDate(draft?.dueDate);
     if (milestoneId !== null) safe.milestoneId = milestoneId;
     if (dueDate) safe.dueDate = dueDate;
     const blockers = safeBlockers(draft?.blockers);
     if (blockers.length) safe.blockers = blockers;
-    const unchanged = ['repository', 'title', 'body', 'milestoneId', 'dueDate']
+    const unchanged = ['repository', 'title', 'body', 'milestoneId', 'dueDate', 'assignee', 'assigneeName']
       .every(key => (previous[key] || '') === (safe[key] || '')) &&
       JSON.stringify(previous.labelIds) === JSON.stringify(safe.labelIds) &&
       JSON.stringify(previous.blockers || []) === JSON.stringify(safe.blockers || []);
@@ -203,6 +298,13 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
     );
   }
 
+  function loadOwners(repository) {
+    const encoded = String(repository || '').split('/').map(encodeURIComponent).join('/');
+    return fetchJson('api/v1/repos/' + encoded + '/issue-assignees').then(owners =>
+      Array.isArray(owners) ? owners : []
+    );
+  }
+
   function loadRepositoryPage(page) {
     const safePage = Math.max(1, Math.floor(Number(page) || 1));
     if (repositoryPageRequests.has(safePage)) return repositoryPageRequests.get(safePage);
@@ -312,6 +414,7 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
       },
       body: JSON.stringify({
         title: saved.title, body: saved.body, label_ids: saved.labelIds,
+        ...(saved.assignee ? {assignee: saved.assignee} : {}),
         ...(saved.milestoneId ? {milestone_id: saved.milestoneId} : {}),
         ...(saved.dueDate ? {due_date: saved.dueDate + 'T23:59:59Z'} : {}),
       }),
@@ -323,7 +426,7 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
   }
 
   return {
-    saveDraft, loadDraft, clearDraft, loadLabels, loadMilestones, loadRepositoryPage,
+    saveDraft, loadDraft, clearDraft, loadLabels, loadMilestones, loadOwners, loadRepositoryPage,
     searchRepositories, searchBlockers, findDuplicates,
     needsDuplicateAcknowledgement, acknowledgeDuplicates, submit,
     stageSharedContent, pendingSharedContent, acceptSharedContent, discardSharedContent,
@@ -332,5 +435,6 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
 }
 
 createIssueCapture.normalizeSharedContent = normalizeSharedContent;
+createIssueCapture.createOwnerPicker = createIssueOwnerPicker;
 
 if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) module.exports = createIssueCapture;
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.css b/frontend/dashboard.css
index 820188c..c68c382 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.css
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.css
@@ -682,6 +682,8 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; min-height: 120px; }
 .create-issue-blocker-selected button { min-height:44px; }
 .create-issue-form label { display:grid; gap:6px; }
 .create-issue-form select, .create-issue-form input[type="date"] { min-height:44px; padding:8px; border-radius:8px; border:1px solid #1f3a5f; background:#0b1526; color:#e5e7eb; }
+.create-issue-owner { min-width:0; }
+.create-issue-owner select { min-height:44px; width:100%; }
 .create-issue-labels { display:grid; gap:8px; margin:0; padding:0; border:0; }
 .create-issue-label-list { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(140px,1fr)); gap:8px; }
 .create-issue-label-option { min-height:44px; display:flex !important; grid-template-columns:auto 1fr !important; align-items:center; gap:8px; padding:8px 10px; border:1px solid #2a496e; border-radius:10px; background:#10213a; }
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.js b/frontend/dashboard.js
index ea84ae6..bf190f2 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.js
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.js
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@
     loadMilestones: item => issueController.loadMilestones(item),
   });
   let issueCapture = null;
+  let issueOwnerPicker = null;
   let updateFollowUp = null;
   const unfiledAttachmentStore = 'indexedDB' in window ? createUnfiledAttachmentStore() : null;
   const unfiledCaptures = createUnfiledCaptures({
@@ -642,6 +643,8 @@
     }, () => {
       if (!issueCapture) {
         issueCapture = createIssueCapture({ fetchJson: fetchReviewJson, storage: localStorage });
+        issueOwnerPicker = createIssueCapture.createOwnerPicker(issueCapture, document,
+          () => { saveIssueCaptureDraft(); updateIssueCreateActions(); });
         updateFollowUp = createUpdateFollowUp({ storage:localStorage, getLogin:()=>confirmedOwnerLogin });
       }
       if (!sharedLaunchHandled && Object.values(sharedLaunch).some(Boolean)) {
@@ -3675,28 +3678,13 @@
   let issueCaptureBlockers = [];
 
   function saveIssueCaptureDraft() {
-    if (!issueCapture) return;
-    issueCapture.saveDraft({
-      repository: qs('#create-issue-repository').value,
-      title: qs('#create-issue-title').value,
-      body: qs('#create-issue-body').value,
-      labelIds: selectedIssueLabelIds(),
-      milestoneId: Number(qs('#create-issue-milestone').value) || null,
-      dueDate: qs('#create-issue-due-date').value,
-      blockers: issueCaptureBlockers,
-    });
+    if (issueCapture) issueCapture.saveDraft(
+      issueOwnerPicker.draft(selectedIssueLabelIds(), issueCaptureBlockers)
+    );
   }
 
   function currentIssueCaptureDraft() {
-    return {
-      repository: qs('#create-issue-repository').value,
-      title: qs('#create-issue-title').value.trim(),
-      body: qs('#create-issue-body').value.trim(),
-      labelIds: selectedIssueLabelIds(),
-      milestoneId: Number(qs('#create-issue-milestone').value) || null,
-      dueDate: qs('#create-issue-due-date').value,
-      blockers: issueCaptureBlockers,
-    };
+    return issueOwnerPicker.draft(selectedIssueLabelIds(), issueCaptureBlockers, true);
   }
 
   let issueCaptureRepositories = [];
@@ -3723,11 +3711,8 @@
   }
 
   function updateIssueCreateActions() {
-    const hasRepository = Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value);
-    const hasBlockers = issueCaptureBlockers.length > 0;
-    qs('#submit-new-issue').disabled = !hasRepository;
-    qs('#create-and-start-issue').disabled = !hasRepository || hasBlockers || !createAndStart.available();
-    qs('#create-and-start-issue').title = hasBlockers ? 'Blocked work cannot start until its blockers are complete.' : '';
+    issueOwnerPicker.updateActions(Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value),
+      issueCaptureBlockers.length > 0, createAndStart.available());
   }
 
   function renderIssueCaptureBlockers(blockers) {
@@ -3801,6 +3786,7 @@
     qs('#create-issue-repository-search').value = repository;
     qs('#create-issue-repository-results').hidden = true;
     qs('#create-issue-repository-status').textContent = 'Selected ' + repository + '.';
+    issueOwnerPicker.reset(repository);
     loadIssueLabels(repository);
     loadIssueMilestones(repository);
     saveIssueCaptureDraft();
@@ -3953,6 +3939,7 @@
     setIssueFilingMode(Boolean(captureDraft.repository));
     qs('#create-issue-capture-status').textContent = '';
     qs('#create-issue-due-date').value = captureDraft.dueDate || '';
+    issueOwnerPicker.reset(captureDraft.repository, captureDraft);
     renderIssueCaptureBlockers(captureDraft.blockers || []);
     qs('#create-issue-blocker-search').value = '';
     qs('#create-issue-blocker-results').hidden = true;
@@ -5144,6 +5131,7 @@
     })
   );
   qs('#create-issue-repository').addEventListener('change', event => {
+    issueOwnerPicker.reset(event.target.value);
     loadIssueLabels(event.target.value);
     loadIssueMilestones(event.target.value);
     qs('#create-issue-repository-search').value = event.target.value;
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 41e9eee..018c2c3 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -797,6 +797,12 @@
       </div>
       <button class="create-issue-repository-more" id="load-more-issue-repositories" type="button" hidden>Load more repositories</button>
       <div id="create-issue-repository-status" class="small" aria-live="polite"></div>
+      <label class="create-issue-owner" for="create-issue-assignee">Owner
+        <select id="create-issue-assignee" aria-describedby="create-issue-assignee-status">
+          <option value="">Me</option>
+        </select>
+        <span id="create-issue-assignee-status" class="small" aria-live="polite">Open the owner picker to load eligible teammates.</span>
+      </label>
       <label for="create-issue-milestone">Milestone <span class="small">Optional</span>
         <select id="create-issue-milestone" aria-describedby="create-issue-milestone-status">
           <option value="">No milestone</option>
diff --git a/frontend/issue-filing-review.js b/frontend/issue-filing-review.js
index f4a1d35..7a3491c 100644
--- a/frontend/issue-filing-review.js
+++ b/frontend/issue-filing-review.js
@@ -103,11 +103,14 @@
       const labels = (draft.labels || []).map(label => typeof label === 'string' ? label : label.name);
       const milestone = draft.milestone?.title || draft.milestoneTitle || 'No milestone';
       const dueDate = draft.dueDate || draft.due_date || 'No due date';
+      const owner = draft.assignee
+        ? 'Owner: ' + (draft.assigneeName || draft.assignee) + ' (@' + draft.assignee + ')'
+        : 'Assigned to you';
       options.metadata.textContent = [
         labels.length ? 'Labels: ' + labels.join(', ') : 'No labels',
         'Milestone: ' + milestone,
         'Due: ' + dueDate,
-        'Assigned to you',
+        owner,
       ].join(' · ');
       if (options.blockerList) {
         options.blockerList.replaceChildren(...(draft.blockers || []).map(blocker => {
diff --git a/frontend/issue-outbox.js b/frontend/issue-outbox.js
index f0c9862..f10bef3 100644
--- a/frontend/issue-outbox.js
+++ b/frontend/issue-outbox.js
@@ -83,9 +83,15 @@ function createIssueOutbox({ storage, fetchJson, coordinator, backgroundSync, ge
       status: 'queued',
       queuedAt: Number(now()),
     };
+    const assignee = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/.test(String(draft?.assignee || ''))
+      ? String(draft.assignee) : '';
+    if (assignee) {
+      item.assignee = assignee;
+      item.assigneeName = String(draft?.assigneeName || assignee).replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim().slice(0, 255);
+    }
     const sourceCaptureId = String(draft?.sourceCaptureId || '').trim().slice(0, 128);
     if (sourceCaptureId) item.sourceCaptureId = sourceCaptureId;
-    if (draft?.completionIntent === 'create-and-start') item.completionIntent = 'create-and-start';
+    if (draft?.completionIntent === 'create-and-start' && !assignee) item.completionIntent = 'create-and-start';
     const attachment = captureAttachment(draft?.attachment);
     if (attachment) item.attachment = attachment;
     const attachments = captureAttachments(draft?.attachments);
@@ -192,6 +198,11 @@ function createIssueOutbox({ storage, fetchJson, coordinator, backgroundSync, ge
       const nextTitle = String(draft?.title || '');
       const nextBody = String(draft?.body || '');
       const nextLabelIds = Array.isArray(draft?.labelIds) ? draft.labelIds.filter(Number.isInteger).slice(0, 20) : [];
+      const nextAssignee = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/.test(String(draft?.assignee || ''))
+        ? String(draft.assignee) : undefined;
+      const nextAssigneeName = nextAssignee
+        ? String(draft?.assigneeName || nextAssignee).replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim().slice(0, 255)
+        : undefined;
       const nextMilestoneId = Number.isInteger(Number(draft?.milestoneId)) && Number(draft.milestoneId) > 0
         ? Number(draft.milestoneId) : undefined;
       const nextDueDate = /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.test(String(draft?.dueDate || ''))
@@ -203,19 +214,25 @@ function createIssueOutbox({ storage, fetchJson, coordinator, backgroundSync, ge
         JSON.stringify(item.attachments || null) !== JSON.stringify(nextAttachments || null);
       const changed = item.repository !== nextRepository || item.title !== nextTitle || item.body !== nextBody
         || JSON.stringify(item.labelIds || []) !== JSON.stringify(nextLabelIds)
+        || item.assignee !== nextAssignee || item.assigneeName !== nextAssigneeName
         || item.milestoneId !== nextMilestoneId || item.dueDate !== nextDueDate
         || attachmentChanged || JSON.stringify(item.blockers || null) !== JSON.stringify(nextBlockers || null);
       updated = {
         ...item,
         repository: nextRepository, title: nextTitle,
         body: nextBody, labelIds: nextLabelIds,
+        assignee: nextAssignee, assigneeName: nextAssigneeName,
         milestoneId: nextMilestoneId, dueDate: nextDueDate,
         attachment: nextAttachment, attachments:nextAttachments, blockers:nextBlockers,
         operationId: changed ? String(operationId()).slice(0, 128) : item.operationId,
         status: 'queued',
       };
-      if (draft?.completionIntent === 'create-and-start') updated.completionIntent = 'create-and-start';
+      if (draft?.completionIntent === 'create-and-start' && !nextAssignee) updated.completionIntent = 'create-and-start';
       else delete updated.completionIntent;
+      if (nextAssignee === undefined) {
+        delete updated.assignee;
+        delete updated.assigneeName;
+      }
       if (nextMilestoneId === undefined) delete updated.milestoneId;
       if (nextDueDate === undefined) delete updated.dueDate;
       if (nextAttachment === undefined) delete updated.attachment;
@@ -305,6 +322,7 @@ function createIssueOutbox({ storage, fetchJson, coordinator, backgroundSync, ge
         },
         body: JSON.stringify({
           title: item.title, body: item.body, label_ids: item.labelIds,
+          ...(item.assignee ? { assignee: item.assignee } : {}),
           ...(item.milestoneId ? { milestone_id: item.milestoneId } : {}),
           ...(item.dueDate ? { due_date: item.dueDate + 'T23:59:59Z' } : {}),
         }),
diff --git a/src/gitea_proxy.py b/src/gitea_proxy.py
index 6ac0d4e..55b68e8 100644
--- a/src/gitea_proxy.py
+++ b/src/gitea_proxy.py
@@ -1452,8 +1452,10 @@ async def create_issue(
         for item in assignees
         if isinstance(item, dict) and isinstance(item.get("login"), str)
     ]
-    if assignee not in confirmed_assignees:
-        raise ValueError("Gitea did not confirm issue self-assignment")
+    if confirmed_assignees != [assignee]:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Gitea did not confirm self-assignment or exact issue assignment"
+        )
     labels_value = issue.get("labels")
     labels = labels_value if isinstance(labels_value, list) else []
     milestone_value = issue.get("milestone")
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 945f7dd..ee12910 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -714,6 +714,9 @@ def _validate_binary_attachment(filename: str, content_type: str, content: bytes
 class IssueCreation(BaseModel):
     title: str = Field(min_length=1, max_length=255)
     body: str = Field(default="", max_length=10_000)
+    assignee: str | None = Field(
+        default=None, pattern=r"^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$", max_length=255
+    )
     label_ids: list[int] = Field(default_factory=list, max_length=20)
     milestone_id: PositiveInt | None = None
     due_date: str | None = Field(
@@ -4525,6 +4528,36 @@ async def repository_labels(owner: str, repo: str):
         )
 
 
+@app.get("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/issue-assignees")
+async def repository_issue_assignees(owner: str, repo: str):
+    repository = f"{owner}/{repo}"
+
+    async def load_assignees():
+        if await gitea_proxy.repository_access(repository) is None:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Repository not found")
+        candidates = [
+            item
+            for item in await gitea_proxy.issue_handoff_candidates(repository)
+            if isinstance(item, dict)
+            and isinstance(item.get("login"), str)
+            and re.fullmatch(r"[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+", item["login"])
+        ][:25]
+        return JSONResponse(candidates, headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"})
+
+    try:
+        return await asyncio.wait_for(
+            load_assignees(), timeout=ISSUE_ACTION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+        )
+    except HTTPException:
+        raise
+    except Exception:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"error": "Owners could not be loaded. You can still assign the issue to yourself."},
+            status_code=503,
+            headers={"Retry-After": "1"},
+        )
+
+
 @app.post("/api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues", status_code=201)
 async def create_assigned_issue(
     creation: IssueCreation,
@@ -4541,6 +4574,17 @@ async def create_assigned_issue(
         login = user.get("login") if isinstance(user, dict) else None
         if not login or accessible is None:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Repository not found")
+        assignee = login
+        if creation.assignee and creation.assignee != login:
+            eligible = {
+                item["login"]
+                for item in await gitea_proxy.issue_handoff_candidates(repository)
+            }
+            if creation.assignee not in eligible:
+                raise HTTPException(
+                    status_code=422, detail="Selected owner is no longer eligible"
+                )
+            assignee = creation.assignee
         if creation.label_ids:
             available_labels = await gitea_proxy.repo_labels(repository)
             valid_label_ids = {
@@ -4566,13 +4610,13 @@ async def create_assigned_issue(
                 repository,
                 creation.title,
                 creation.body,
-                login,
+                assignee,
                 creation.label_ids,
                 creation.milestone_id,
                 creation.due_date,
             )
         return await gitea_proxy.create_issue(
-            repository, creation.title, creation.body, login, creation.label_ids
+            repository, creation.title, creation.body, assignee, creation.label_ids
         )
 
     try:
@@ -4584,6 +4628,7 @@ async def create_assigned_issue(
                 repository,
                 creation.title,
                 creation.body,
+                creation.assignee,
                 tuple(creation.label_ids),
                 creation.milestone_id,
                 creation.due_date,
diff --git a/tests/test_issue_api.py b/tests/test_issue_api.py
index b411ba3..3a07a18 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue_api.py
@@ -620,6 +620,63 @@ async def test_create_issue_endpoint_derives_self_assignment_and_returns_confirm
     assert calls == [("stackchain/api", "Capture mobile work", "Context", "timmy", [3])]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_create_issue_endpoint_validates_and_assigns_selected_initial_owner(monkeypatch):
+    calls = []
+
+    async def user():
+        return {"login": "timmy"}
+
+    async def access(repository):
+        return {"full_name": repository}
+
+    async def candidates(repository):
+        assert repository == "stackchain/api"
+        return [{"login": "alex", "name": "Alex"}]
+
+    async def create(repository, title, body, assignee, label_ids):
+        calls.append((repository, title, assignee))
+        return {"number": 18, "repository": repository, "assignees": [assignee]}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "current_user", user)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "repository_access", access)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "issue_handoff_candidates", candidates)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "create_issue", create)
+    transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="http://test") as client:
+        response = await client.post(
+            "/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/issues",
+            json={"title": "Delegate at capture", "assignee": "alex"},
+        )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 201
+    assert response.json()["assignees"] == ["alex"]
+    assert calls == [("stackchain/api", "Delegate at capture", "alex")]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_initial_owner_candidates_require_repository_access_and_are_bounded(monkeypatch):
+    async def access(repository):
+        return {"full_name": repository} if repository == "stackchain/api" else None
+
+    async def candidates(repository):
+        return ([{"login": "bad user", "name": "Unsafe"}] +
+                [{"login": f"user-{index}", "name": f"User {index}"} for index in range(40)])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "repository_access", access)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "issue_handoff_candidates", candidates)
+    transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="http://test") as client:
+        listed = await client.get("/api/v1/repos/stackchain/api/issue-assignees")
+        missing = await client.get("/api/v1/repos/stackchain/private/issue-assignees")
+
+    assert listed.status_code == 200
+    assert listed.headers["cache-control"] == "no-store"
+    assert len(listed.json()) == 25
+    assert all(item["login"] != "bad user" for item in listed.json())
+    assert missing.status_code == 404
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_repository_page_reports_more_results_and_targeted_access_uses_repository_route():
     calls = []
@@ -1118,6 +1175,22 @@ async def test_gitea_create_issue_posts_self_assignment_and_normalizes_confirmat
     assert result["labels"] == ["P0"]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_gitea_create_issue_requires_exact_selected_initial_owner():
+    async def handler(_request):
+        return httpx.Response(201, json={
+            "id": 82, "number": 18, "title": "Delegate", "state": "open",
+            "assignees": [{"login": "alex"}, {"login": "timmy"}], "labels": [],
+        })
+
+    gitea_proxy.start_client(transport=httpx.MockTransport(handler))
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="exact issue assignment"):
+            await gitea_proxy.create_issue("stackchain/api", "Delegate", "", "alex", [])
+    finally:
+        await gitea_proxy.stop_client()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_gitea_create_issue_requires_confirmed_release_plan():
     async def handler(_request):
diff --git a/tests/test_issue_filing_review.py b/tests/test_issue_filing_review.py
index c9e9a3b..8682f07 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue_filing_review.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue_filing_review.py
@@ -85,6 +85,20 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(blockerList.children.map(item=>item.textCont
     assert run_node(script) == ["o/api #7 — API ready", "o/web #8 — Web ready"]
 
 
+def test_review_names_the_selected_initial_owner():
+    script = f"""
+const createReview=require({json.dumps(str(MODULE))});
+function target(){{return{{hidden:true,disabled:false,textContent:'',addEventListener:()=>{{}},replaceChildren:()=>{{}},focus:()=>{{}}}};}}
+const metadata=target();
+const review=createReview({{sheet:target(),confirmButton:target(),backButton:target(),evidenceList:target(),
+  repository:target(),intent:target(),title:target(),body:target(),metadata,
+  document:{{createElement:()=>target(),addEventListener:()=>{{}}}},onConfirm:async()=>{{}}}});
+review.open({{draft:{{repository:'o/r',title:'Delegate',assignee:'alex',assigneeName:'Alex'}},intent:'create-and-assign'}},target());
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{metadata:metadata.textContent}}));
+"""
+    assert run_node(script)["metadata"].endswith("Owner: Alex (@alex)")
+
+
 def test_escape_returns_to_the_unchanged_issue_form():
     script = f"""
 const createReview = require({json.dumps(str(MODULE))});
diff --git a/tests/test_issue_outbox.py b/tests/test_issue_outbox.py
index b58d3a9..52f603f 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue_outbox.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue_outbox.py
@@ -71,6 +71,40 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{items:reloaded, stored:JSON.parse(values.g
     assert output["stored"]["version"] == 3
 
 
+def test_issue_outbox_preserves_initial_owner_and_disables_start_for_teammate():
+    script = f"""
+const createIssueOutbox=require({json.dumps(str(OUTBOX))});
+const values=new Map();const calls=[];
+const storage={{getItem:k=>values.get(k)||null,setItem:(k,v)=>values.set(k,v),removeItem:k=>values.delete(k)}};
+const outbox=createIssueOutbox({{storage,getOwnerLogin:()=>'timmy',createOperationId:()=>'owner-outbox',fetchJson:async(url,options)=>{{calls.push(JSON.parse(options.body));return{{number:18,assignees:['alex']}};}}}});
+const queued=outbox.enqueue({{repository:'o/r',title:'Delegate',assignee:'alex',assigneeName:'Alex',completionIntent:'create-and-start'}});
+(async()=>{{await outbox.flush('timmy');process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{queued,calls}}));}})();
+"""
+    output = run_node(script)
+    assert output["queued"]["assignee"] == "alex"
+    assert output["queued"]["assigneeName"] == "Alex"
+    assert "completionIntent" not in output["queued"]
+    assert output["calls"] == [{
+        "title": "Delegate", "body": "", "label_ids": [], "assignee": "alex"
+    }]
+
+
+def test_editing_queued_issue_can_return_initial_owner_to_self():
+    script = f"""
+const createIssueOutbox=require({json.dumps(str(OUTBOX))});
+const values=new Map();const storage={{getItem:k=>values.get(k)||null,setItem:(k,v)=>values.set(k,v)}};
+let id=0;const outbox=createIssueOutbox({{storage,getOwnerLogin:()=>'timmy',createOperationId:()=>String(++id)}});
+const queued=outbox.enqueue({{repository:'o/r',title:'Delegate',assignee:'alex',assigneeName:'Alex'}});
+const updated=outbox.update(queued.id,{{...queued,assignee:'',assigneeName:'',completionIntent:'create-and-start'}});
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(updated));
+"""
+    output = run_node(script)
+    assert "assignee" not in output
+    assert "assigneeName" not in output
+    assert output["completionIntent"] == "create-and-start"
+    assert output["operationId"] != "1"
+
+
 def test_issue_outbox_preserves_bounded_ordered_evidence_bundle():
     script = f"""
 const createIssueOutbox=require({json.dumps(str(OUTBOX))});
diff --git a/tests/test_my_work.py b/tests/test_my_work.py
index 60c581c..f419887 100644
--- a/tests/test_my_work.py
+++ b/tests/test_my_work.py
@@ -1845,8 +1845,7 @@ async def test_new_issue_sheet_exposes_touch_safe_release_planning_controls():
     assert 'id="create-issue-milestone-status" aria-live="polite"' in html
     assert '.create-issue-form select, .create-issue-form input[type="date"] { min-height:44px;' in html
     assert 'issueCapture.loadMilestones(repository)' in html
-    assert "milestoneId: Number(qs('#create-issue-milestone').value) || null" in html
-    assert "dueDate: qs('#create-issue-due-date').value" in html
+    assert "issueOwnerPicker.draft(selectedIssueLabelIds(), issueCaptureBlockers" in html
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -4018,7 +4017,7 @@ async def test_mobile_issue_capture_requires_explicit_searchable_repository_sele
     assert "if (query.length < 2) {\n      issueCapture.searchRepositories(query);" in html
     assert "renderIssueRepositoryResults(state.items)" in html
     assert "selectIssueCaptureRepository(repository)" in html
-    assert "const hasRepository = Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value);" in html
+    assert "issueOwnerPicker.updateActions(Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value)" in html
     assert '.create-issue-repository-result { min-height:44px;' in html
     assert '.create-issue-repository-picker { min-width:0;' in html
 
@@ -4053,6 +4052,49 @@ capture.saveDraft({{repository:'o/r',title:'Blocked work',body:'',blockers}});
     assert output["calls"] == ["api/v1/search?q=api&limit=20"]
 
 
+def test_issue_capture_persists_selected_owner_and_sends_it_on_creation():
+    script = f"""
+const createIssueCapture=require({json.dumps(str(CREATE_ISSUE_SHEET))});
+const values=new Map(); const calls=[];
+const storage={{getItem:k=>values.get(k)||null,setItem:(k,v)=>values.set(k,v),removeItem:k=>values.delete(k)}};
+const fetchJson=async (url,options={{}})=>{{calls.push({{url,body:options.body||''}});if(url.endsWith('/issue-assignees'))return [{{login:'alex',name:'Alex'}}];return {{number:18,assignees:['alex']}};}};
+const capture=createIssueCapture({{storage,fetchJson,createOperationId:()=>'owner-op'}});
+capture.saveDraft({{repository:'o/r',title:'Delegate',body:'Context',labelIds:[],assignee:'alex',assigneeName:'Alex'}});
+(async()=>{{const owners=await capture.loadOwners('o/r');const draft=capture.loadDraft();await capture.submit(draft);process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{owners,draft,calls}}));}})();
+"""
+    output = json.loads(subprocess.run(
+        ["node", "-e", script], check=True, capture_output=True, text=True
+    ).stdout)
+
+    assert output["owners"] == [{"login": "alex", "name": "Alex"}]
+    assert output["draft"]["assignee"] == "alex"
+    assert output["draft"]["assigneeName"] == "Alex"
+    assert json.loads(output["calls"][-1]["body"])["assignee"] == "alex"
+
+
+def test_initial_owner_picker_discards_an_older_same_repository_response():
+    script = f"""
+const createIssueCapture=require({json.dumps(str(CREATE_ISSUE_SHEET))});
+let repository='o/a'; const pending=[];
+function select(){{const listeners={{}};return{{value:'',dataset:{{}},children:[],selectedOptions:[],
+  replaceChildren(){{this.children=[];this.value='';this.selectedOptions=[];}},appendChild(option){{this.children.push(option);if(option.value===this.value)this.selectedOptions=[option];}},
+  addEventListener:(name,fn)=>listeners[name]=fn}};}}
+const owner=select(),status={{textContent:''}},repo={{get value(){{return repository;}}}};
+const documentRef={{querySelector:id=>id==='#create-issue-assignee'?owner:id==='#create-issue-assignee-status'?status:repo,
+  createElement:()=>({{value:'',textContent:'',dataset:{{}}}})}};
+const capture={{loadOwners:()=>new Promise(resolve=>pending.push(resolve))}};
+const picker=createIssueCapture.createOwnerPicker(capture,documentRef,()=>{{}});
+(async()=>{{picker.reset('o/a');const first=picker.load('o/a');repository='o/b';picker.reset('o/b');
+  repository='o/a';picker.reset('o/a');const latest=picker.load('o/a');pending[1]([{{login:'new',name:'New'}}]);await latest;
+  pending[0]([{{login:'old',name:'Old'}}]);await first;
+  process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(owner.children.map(option=>option.value)));}})();
+"""
+    output = json.loads(subprocess.run(
+        ["node", "-e", script], check=True, capture_output=True, text=True
+    ).stdout)
+    assert output == ["", "new"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_mobile_issue_capture_selects_blockers_without_starting_blocked_work():
     html = await dashboard()
@@ -4061,14 +4103,27 @@ async def test_mobile_issue_capture_selects_blockers_without_starting_blocked_wo
     assert 'id="create-issue-blocker-selected"' in html
     assert 'id="create-issue-blocker-status" class="small" aria-live="polite"' in html
     assert "issueCapture.searchBlockers(query)" in html
-    assert "blockers: issueCaptureBlockers" in html
+    assert "issueOwnerPicker.draft(selectedIssueLabelIds(), issueCaptureBlockers" in html
     assert "renderIssueCaptureBlockers(captureDraft.blockers || [])" in html
-    assert "const hasBlockers = issueCaptureBlockers.length > 0;" in html
+    assert "issueCaptureBlockers.length > 0, createAndStart.available()" in html
     assert ".create-issue-blocker-result" in html
     assert "min-height:44px" in html.split(".create-issue-blocker-result", 1)[1]
     assert "@media(max-width:320px)" in html
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_mobile_issue_capture_lazily_selects_an_initial_owner():
+    html = await dashboard()
+    assert 'id="create-issue-assignee"' in html
+    assert '<option value="">Me</option>' in html
+    assert 'id="create-issue-assignee-status" class="small" aria-live="polite"' in html
+    assert "createIssueCapture.createOwnerPicker(issueCapture, document," in html
+    assert "() => { saveIssueCaptureDraft(); updateIssueCreateActions(); });" in html
+    assert "issueOwnerPicker.draft(selectedIssueLabelIds(), issueCaptureBlockers" in html
+    assert "issueOwnerPicker.updateActions(" in html
+    assert '.create-issue-owner select { min-height:44px;' in html
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_mobile_assigned_issue_sheet_exposes_touch_sized_content_editor():
     html = await dashboard()