What Changed

• Added a new pull request template file (.github/pull_request_template.md) with four required sections: What Changed, Why It Was Necessary, Testing Performed, and Impact/Risk
• Normalized line endings across 27 GitHub workflow files in the .github/workflows/ directory, converting CRLF to LF format
• Updated .github/.env.base configuration file with normalized line endings for consistency
• Synchronized CodeQL analysis, Fortress CI/CD pipeline workflows, security scanning, testing suites, coverage reporting, and pull request management workflows

Why It Was Necessary

• Establishes a standardized pull request template to ensure consistent documentation and review quality across all contributions
• Resolves line ending inconsistencies that can cause diff noise and potential cross-platform compatibility issues in CI/CD pipelines
• Ensures workflow files follow Unix-style line endings (LF) which is the standard for GitHub Actions and cross-platform Git repositories
• Maintains alignment with upstream workflow improvements and best practices for repository maintenance

Testing Performed

• Validated YAML syntax integrity of all 27 modified workflow files to ensure no functional changes occurred
• Verified that line ending normalization (CRLF to LF conversion) does not alter workflow execution behavior
• Confirmed pull request template renders correctly in GitHub's PR creation interface
• Checked that .env.base configuration maintains proper formatting after line ending changes
• Ensured no breaking changes to workflow triggers, job definitions, or action configurations

Impact / Risk

• Very Low Risk: Changes are purely formatting-related (line endings) and additive (new PR template)
• No Breaking Changes: Workflow logic and execution remain identical; only file encoding updated
• Developer Experience: Positive impact through standardized PR documentation requirements
• CI/CD Stability: Line ending consistency prevents potential cross-platform execution issues in GitHub Actions runners