diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-assign.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-assign.yml
index 0c78598d065..8d08b73452e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-assign.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-assign.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Auto Author Assign
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [ opened, reopened ]
+    types: [opened, reopened]
 
 permissions:
   pull-requests: write
@@ -10,5 +10,9 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   assign-author:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: |
+      github.event.pull_request.author_association == 'MEMBER' ||
+      github.event.pull_request.author_association == 'OWNER' ||
+      github.event.pull_request.author_association == 'COLLABORATOR'
     steps:
       - uses: toshimaru/auto-author-assign@v2.1.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/issue.yml b/.github/workflows/issue.yml
index 661d5e2ab4d..3e8dd3623fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/issue.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/issue.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Linked Issue
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [opened, edited]
+    types: [opened, edited, ready_for_review]
 
 env:
   VALID_ISSUE_PREFIXES: "CNCT|DASH|PROT|INSIGHT|ENGINE|CS|DES|BIL|DEVX|SOLU|NEB"
@@ -22,6 +22,17 @@ jobs:
               pull_number: context.issue.number
             });
 
+            // Check if contributor is external
+            const isInternalContributor = ['MEMBER', 'OWNER', 'COLLABORATOR'].includes(
+              context.payload.pull_request.author_association
+            );
+
+            // Automatically pass for external contributors
+            if (!isInternalContributor) {
+              console.log('External contributor detected - automatically passing check');
+              return;
+            }
+
             const body = pr.data.body || '';
             const branchName = pr.data.head.ref;
             const issueRegex = new RegExp(`(${process.env.VALID_ISSUE_PREFIXES})-\\d+`, 'i');