diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 42ec34284..4ebb3666e 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -103,14 +103,12 @@ WORKFLOW_BUILD=${WORKFLOW_BUILD:-"OFF"}
 CMAKE_OPTS+=" -DWORKFLOW_TESTS=${WORKFLOW_BUILD}"
 
 # JCSDA changed test data things, need to make a dummy CRTM directory
-if [[ $BUILD_TARGET == 'hera' ]]; then
-  if [ -d "$dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/" ]; then rm -rf $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/; fi
-  if [ -d "$dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/" ]; then rm -rf $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/; fi
-  mkdir -p $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/
-  mkdir -p $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/
-  ln -sf $GDASAPP_TESTDATA/crtm $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/crtm
-  ln -sf $GDASAPP_TESTDATA/crtm $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/crtm
-fi
+if [ -d "$dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/" ]; then rm -rf $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/; fi
+if [ -d "$dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/" ]; then rm -rf $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/; fi
+mkdir -p $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/
+mkdir -p $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/
+ln -sf $GDASAPP_TESTDATA/crtm $dir_root/bundle/fix/test-data-release/crtm
+ln -sf $GDASAPP_TESTDATA/crtm $dir_root/bundle/test-data-release/crtm
 
 # Configure
 echo "Configuring ..."
diff --git a/ci/driver.sh b/ci/driver.sh
index b6572914f..933b9223b 100755
--- a/ci/driver.sh
+++ b/ci/driver.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/bash --login
 
-set -x
+echo "Start at $(date)"
 
 my_dir="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
+echo "Set my_dir ${my_dir}"
 
 # ==============================================================================
 usage() {
@@ -53,6 +54,14 @@ esac
 cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/repo
 CI_LABEL="${GDAS_CI_HOST}-RT"
 gh pr list --label "$CI_LABEL" --state "open" | awk '{print $1;}' > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list
+
+open_pr=`cat $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list | wc -l`
+if (( $open_pr == 0 )); then
+  echo "No open PRs with ${CI_LABEL}, exit."
+  echo "Finish at $(date)"    
+  exit
+fi
+
 open_pr_list=$(cat $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list)
 
 # ==============================================================================
@@ -60,72 +69,86 @@ open_pr_list=$(cat $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list)
 repo_url="https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/GDASApp.git"
 # loop through all open PRs
 for pr in $open_pr_list; do
-  gh pr edit $pr --remove-label $CI_LABEL --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running
-  echo "Processing Pull Request #${pr}"
+  echo " "
+  echo "Start processing Pull Request #${pr} at $(date)"
 
   # get the branch name used for the PR
   gdasapp_branch=$(gh pr view $pr --json headRefName -q ".headRefName")
-  
-  # get the fork information
-  pr_details=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepository,headRepositoryOwner,headRefName)
 
-  # extract the necessary info
-  fork_owner=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepositoryOwner --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
-  fork_name=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepository --jq '.headRepository.name')
-
-  # construct the fork URL
-  gdasapp_url="https://github.com/$fork_owner/${fork_name}.git"
+  # get additional branch information
+  branch_owner=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepositoryOwner --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
+  branch_name=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepository --jq '.headRepository.name')
+  pr_assignees=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json assignees --jq '.assignees[].login')
+
+  # check if any assignee is authorized to run CI
+  authorized_by=""
+  for str in ${pr_assignees[@]}; do
+    grep $str /scratch1/NCEPDEV/da/role.jedipara/CI/GDASApp/authorized_users
+    rc=$?
+    if (( rc == 0 )); then
+      authorized_by=${str}
+      echo "FOUND MATCH $str, rc $rc"
+      break
+    fi
+  done
+
+  # Authorized to run CI
+  if (( rc == 0 )); then
+    echo "Run CI"
+
+    # update PR label
+    gh pr edit $pr --remove-label $CI_LABEL --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running
+    
+    # construct the fork URL
+    gdasapp_url="https://github.com/$branch_owner/${branch_name}.git"
   
-  echo "Fork URL: $gdasapp_url"
-  echo "Branch Name: $gdasapp_branch"
-
-  # create PR specific directory
-  if [ -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr ]; then
-      rm -rf $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
-  fi
-  mkdir -p $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
-  cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
-
-  # clone copy of repo
-  git clone --recursive --jobs 8 --branch $gdasapp_branch $gdasapp_url
-  cd GDASApp
-
-  # checkout pull request
-  git pull
-  gh pr checkout $pr
-  git submodule update --init --recursive
-
-  # get commit hash
-  commit=$(git log --pretty=format:'%h' -n 1)
-  echo "$commit" > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/commit
-
-  # load modules
-  case ${TARGET} in
-    hera | orion)
-      echo "Loading modules on $TARGET"
-      module purge
-      module use $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/GDASApp/modulefiles
-      module load GDAS/$TARGET
-      module list
-      ;;
-    *)
-      echo "Unsupported platform. Exiting with error."
-      exit 1
-      ;;
-  esac
-
-  # run build and testing command
-  $my_dir/run_ci.sh -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/GDASApp -o $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
-  ci_status=$?
-  gh pr comment $pr --repo ${repo_url} --body-file $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
-  if [ $ci_status -eq 0 ]; then
-    gh pr edit $pr --repo ${repo_url} --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Passed
+    echo "GDASApp URL: $gdasapp_url"
+    echo "GDASApp branch Name: $gdasapp_branch"
+    echo "CI authorized by $authorized_by at $(date)"
+
+    # create PR specific directory
+    if [ -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr ]; then
+        rm -rf $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
+    fi
+    mkdir -p $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
+    cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr
+    pwd
+
+    # clone copy of repo
+    git clone --recursive --jobs 8 --branch $gdasapp_branch $gdasapp_url
+    cd GDASApp
+    pwd
+
+    # checkout GDASApp pull request
+    git pull
+    gh pr checkout $pr
+    git submodule update --init --recursive
+
+    # get commit hash
+    commit=$(git log --pretty=format:'%h' -n 1)
+    echo "$commit" > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/commit
+
+    # run build and testing command
+    echo "Execute $my_dir/run_ci.sh for $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/GDASApp at $(date)"
+    $my_dir/run_ci.sh -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/GDASApp -o $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
+    ci_status=$?
+    echo "After run_ci.sh with ci_status ${ci_status} at $(date)"
+    gh pr comment $pr --repo ${repo_url} --body-file $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
+    if [ $ci_status -eq 0 ]; then
+      gh pr edit $pr --repo ${repo_url} --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Passed
+    else
+      gh pr edit $pr --repo ${repo_url} --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Failed
+    fi
+
+  # Not authorized to run CI
   else
-    gh pr edit $pr --repo ${repo_url} --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Failed
+    echo "Do NOT run CI"
   fi
+
+  echo "Finish processing Pull Request #{pr} at $(date)"
 done
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # scrub working directory for older files
 find $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/* -maxdepth 1 -mtime +3 -exec rm -rf {} \;
-
+echo "Finish at $(date)"
diff --git a/ci/gw_driver.sh b/ci/gw_driver.sh
index e85684f84..c40ff4026 100755
--- a/ci/gw_driver.sh
+++ b/ci/gw_driver.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/bash --login
 
+echo "Start at $(date)"
+
 my_dir="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
+echo "Set my_dir ${my_dir}"
 
 # ==============================================================================
 usage() {
@@ -32,7 +35,7 @@ done
 
 case ${TARGET} in
   hera | orion)
-    echo "Running automated testing with workflow on $TARGET"
+    echo "Running Automated GW Testing on $TARGET"
     source $MODULESHOME/init/sh
     source $my_dir/${TARGET}.sh
     module purge
@@ -51,69 +54,116 @@ esac
 cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/repo
 CI_LABEL="${GDAS_CI_HOST}-GW-RT"
 gh pr list --label "$CI_LABEL" --state "open" | awk '{print $1;}' > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list_gw
+
+open_pr=`cat $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list_gw | wc -l`
+if (( $open_pr == 0 )); then
+  echo "No open PRs with ${CI_LABEL}, exit."
+  echo "Finish at $(date)"    
+  exit
+fi
+
 open_pr_list=$(cat $GDAS_CI_ROOT/open_pr_list_gw)
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # clone, checkout, build, test, etc.
 repo_url="https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/GDASApp.git"
 workflow_url="https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/global-workflow.git"
+workflow_branch="develop"
 # loop through all open PRs
 for pr in $open_pr_list; do
-  gh pr edit $pr --remove-label $CI_LABEL --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running
-  echo "Processing Pull Request #${pr}"
+  echo " "
+  echo "Start processing Pull Request #${pr} at $(date)"
 
   # get the branch name used for the PR
   gdasapp_branch=$(gh pr view $pr --json headRefName -q ".headRefName")
 
-  # check for a companion PR in the global-workflow
-  companion_pr_exists=$(gh pr list --repo ${workflow_url} --head ${gdasapp_branch} --state open)
-  if [ -n "$companion_pr_exists" ]; then
-    # get the PR number
-    companion_pr=$(echo "$companion_pr_exists" | awk '{print $1;}')
-
-    # extract the necessary info
-    fork_owner=$(gh pr view $companion_pr --repo $workflow_url --json headRepositoryOwner --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
-    fork_name=$(gh pr view $companion_pr --repo $workflow_url --json headRepository --jq '.headRepository.name')
-
-    # Construct the fork URL
-    workflow_url="https://github.com/$fork_owner/$fork_name.git"
-
-    echo "Fork URL: $workflow_url"
-    echo "Branch Name: $gdasapp_branch"
-  fi
-
-  # create PR specific directory
-  if [ -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr ]; then
-      rm -rf $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
-  fi
-  mkdir -p $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
-  cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
+  # get additional branch information
+  branch_owner=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepositoryOwner --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
+  branch_name=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json headRepository --jq '.headRepository.name')
+  pr_assignees=$(gh pr view $pr --repo ${repo_url} --json assignees --jq '.assignees[].login')
+
+  # check if any assignee is authorized to run CI
+  authorized_by=""
+  for str in ${pr_assignees[@]}; do
+    grep $str /scratch1/NCEPDEV/da/role.jedipara/CI/GDASApp/authorized_users
+    rc=$?
+    if (( rc == 0 )); then
+      authorized_by=${str}
+      echo "FOUND MATCH $str, rc $rc"
+      break
+    fi
+  done
+
+  # Authorized to run CI
+  if (( rc == 0 )); then
+    echo "Run CI"
+
+    # update PR label
+    gh pr edit $pr --remove-label $CI_LABEL --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running
+
+    # check for a companion PR in the global-workflow
+    companion_pr_exists=$(gh pr list --repo ${workflow_url} --head ${gdasapp_branch} --state open)
+    if [ -n "$companion_pr_exists" ]; then
+      # get the PR number
+      companion_pr=$(echo "$companion_pr_exists" | awk '{print $1;}')
+
+      # extract the necessary info
+      branch_owner=$(gh pr view $companion_pr --repo $workflow_url --json headRepositoryOwner --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
+      branch_name=$(gh pr view $companion_pr --repo $workflow_url --json headRepository --jq '.headRepository.name')
+
+      # Construct fork URL. Update workflow branch name
+      workflow_url="https://github.com/$branch_owner/$branch_name.git"
+      workflow_branch=$gdasapp_branch
+
+    fi
+    
+    echo "Workflow URL: $workflow_url"
+    echo "Workflow branch name: $workflow_branch"
+    echo "GDASApp branch name: $gdasapp_branch"
+    echo "CI authorized by $authorized_by at $(date)"
+
+    # create PR specific directory
+    if [ -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr ]; then
+        rm -rf $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
+    fi
+    mkdir -p $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
+    cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr
+    pwd
   
-  # clone global workflow develop branch
-  git clone --recursive --jobs 8 --branch dev/gdasapp $workflow_url
-
-  # checkout pull request
-  cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/global-workflow/sorc/gdas.cd
-  git checkout develop
-  git pull
-  gh pr checkout $pr
-  git submodule update --init --recursive
-
-  # get commit hash
-  commit=$(git log --pretty=format:'%h' -n 1)
-  echo "$commit" > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/commit
-
-  $my_dir/run_gw_ci.sh -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/global-workflow -o $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
-  ci_status=$?
-  gh pr comment $pr --body-file $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
-  if [ $ci_status -eq 0 ]; then
-    gh pr edit $pr --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Passed
+    # clone global workflow develop branch
+    git clone --recursive --jobs 8 --branch $workflow_branch $workflow_url
+
+    # checkout GDASApp pull request
+    cd $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/global-workflow/sorc/gdas.cd
+    git pull
+    gh pr checkout $pr
+    git submodule update --init --recursive
+
+    # get commit hash
+    commit=$(git log --pretty=format:'%h' -n 1)
+    echo "$commit" > $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/commit
+
+    # run build and testing command
+    echo "Execute $my_dir/run_gw_ci.sh for $GDAS_CI_ROOT/PR/workflow/PR/$pr/global-workflow at $(date)"
+    $my_dir/run_gw_ci.sh -d $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/global-workflow -o $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
+    ci_status=$?
+    echo "After run_gw_ci.sh with ci_status ${ci_status} at $(date)"
+    gh pr comment $pr --body-file $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/$pr/output_${commit}
+    if [ $ci_status -eq 0 ]; then
+      gh pr edit $pr --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Passed
+    else
+      gh pr edit $pr --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Failed
+    fi
+
+  # Not authorized to run CI
   else
-    gh pr edit $pr --remove-label ${CI_LABEL}-Running --add-label ${CI_LABEL}-Failed
+    echo "Do NOT run CI"
   fi
+
+  echo "Finish processing Pull Request #{pr} at $(date)"
 done
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # scrub working directory for older files
 find $GDAS_CI_ROOT/workflow/PR/* -maxdepth 1 -mtime +3 -exec rm -rf {} \;
-
+echo "Finish at $(date)"
diff --git a/ci/run_ci.sh b/ci/run_ci.sh
index b62f78a88..1b5f27231 100755
--- a/ci/run_ci.sh
+++ b/ci/run_ci.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-#set -eu
+set -u
 
 # ==============================================================================
 usage() {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ module use $GDAS_MODULE_USE
 module load GDAS/$TARGET
 echo "---------------------------------------------------" >> $outfile
 rm -rf log.ctest
-ctest -E "manual" -R gdasapp --output-on-failure &>> log.ctest
+ctest -R gdasapp --output-on-failure &>> log.ctest
 ctest_status=$?
 npassed=$(cat log.ctest | grep "tests passed")
 if [ $ctest_status -eq 0 ]; then
diff --git a/ci/run_gw_ci.sh b/ci/run_gw_ci.sh
index 59758e37f..ba1874107 100755
--- a/ci/run_gw_ci.sh
+++ b/ci/run_gw_ci.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-#set -eu
+set -u
 
 # ==============================================================================
 usage() {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ done
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # start output file
-echo "Automated Global-Workflow GDASApp Testing Results:" > $outfile
+echo "Automated GW GDASApp Testing Results:" > $outfile
 echo "Machine: ${TARGET}" >> $outfile
 echo '```' >> $outfile
 echo "Start: $(date) on $(hostname)" >> $outfile