diff --git a/ml/src/hyperopt/optimizer.rs b/ml/src/hyperopt/optimizer.rs
index 2afdf0427..a5af36cc7 100644
--- a/ml/src/hyperopt/optimizer.rs
+++ b/ml/src/hyperopt/optimizer.rs
@@ -317,12 +317,15 @@ impl ArgminOptimizer {
         let trials_used = trials.len();
         let remaining_trials = self.max_trials.saturating_sub(trials_used);
 
-        // FIX: Each PSO iteration evaluates n_particles, so divide remaining budget by swarm size
-        let max_iters_by_budget = remaining_trials.saturating_div(self.n_particles);
+        // CRITICAL FIX: Hyperopt adapters execute SEQUENTIALLY (mutex-locked models)
+        // Each iteration evaluates exactly 1 trial, not n_particles trials
+        // Therefore: max_iters = remaining_trials (no division)
+        let max_iters_by_budget = remaining_trials;
+
         let max_iters = max_iters_by_budget.min(self.max_iters_per_restart);
 
-        info!("PSO Budget: {} iterations ({} remaining trials ÷ {} particles)",
-              max_iters, remaining_trials, self.n_particles);
+        info!("PSO Budget: {} iterations ({} remaining trials, sequential execution)",
+              max_iters, remaining_trials);
 
         if max_iters > 0 {
             // Create bounds vectors for ParticleSwarm
diff --git a/scripts/build_docker_images.sh b/scripts/build_docker_images.sh
index 40a41a5d5..e7de64846 100755
--- a/scripts/build_docker_images.sh
+++ b/scripts/build_docker_images.sh
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@ validate_binaries() {
     local missing_binaries=()
 
     for binary in "${EXPECTED_BINARIES[@]}"; do
-        if ! docker run --rm "$image_tag" test -f "/usr/local/bin/$binary"; then
+        # Override entrypoint to bypass self-termination wrapper during validation
+        if ! docker run --rm --entrypoint="" "$image_tag" test -f "/usr/local/bin/$binary"; then
             print_error "Binary not found: /usr/local/bin/$binary"
             missing_binaries+=("$binary")
         else
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ validate_binaries() {
 
     # Check CUDA libraries
     print_info "Checking CUDA libraries..."
-    if ! docker run --rm "$image_tag" test -d /usr/local/cuda; then
+    if ! docker run --rm --entrypoint="" "$image_tag" test -d /usr/local/cuda; then
         print_error "CUDA directory not found in image"
         return 1
     fi
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ validate_binaries() {
 
     # Check cuDNN libraries
     print_info "Checking cuDNN libraries..."
-    if ! docker run --rm "$image_tag" sh -c 'ldconfig -p | grep -q libcudnn'; then
+    if ! docker run --rm --entrypoint="" "$image_tag" sh -c 'ldconfig -p | grep -q libcudnn'; then
         print_warning "cuDNN library not found (may be OK if using base image)"
     else
         print_success "cuDNN library present"
@@ -311,7 +312,7 @@ validate_binaries() {
     # Check GLIBC version (should be 2.35 for Ubuntu 22.04)
     print_info "Checking GLIBC version..."
     local glibc_version
-    glibc_version=$(docker run --rm "$image_tag" ldd --version | head -n1 | grep -oP '\d+\.\d+' | head -n1)
+    glibc_version=$(docker run --rm --entrypoint="" "$image_tag" ldd --version | head -n1 | grep -oP '\d+\.\d+' | head -n1)
     print_success "GLIBC version: $glibc_version"
 
     print_success "Image validation complete"
diff --git a/scripts/validate_gitlab_cicd.sh b/scripts/validate_gitlab_cicd.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..7a715dd0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/validate_gitlab_cicd.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,387 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# =============================================================================
+# GitLab CI/CD Configuration Validator
+# =============================================================================
+# Purpose: Validate .gitlab-ci.yml configuration and check prerequisites
+# Usage: ./scripts/validate_gitlab_cicd.sh
+# =============================================================================
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Colors
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+BLUE='\033[0;34m'
+CYAN='\033[0;36m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+print_header() {
+    echo -e "\n${CYAN}==============================================================================${NC}"
+    echo -e "${CYAN}$1${NC}"
+    echo -e "${CYAN}==============================================================================${NC}\n"
+}
+
+print_success() {
+    echo -e "${GREEN}[✓]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_error() {
+    echo -e "${RED}[✗]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_warning() {
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}[!]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+print_info() {
+    echo -e "${BLUE}[i]${NC} $1"
+}
+
+# =============================================================================
+# Validation Functions
+# =============================================================================
+
+validate_gitlab_ci_file() {
+    print_header "1. Validating .gitlab-ci.yml Syntax"
+
+    if [ ! -f .gitlab-ci.yml ]; then
+        print_error ".gitlab-ci.yml not found in current directory"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    print_success ".gitlab-ci.yml file exists"
+
+    # Check if gitlab-ci-local is installed for local validation
+    if command -v gitlab-ci-local &> /dev/null; then
+        print_info "Validating syntax with gitlab-ci-local..."
+        if gitlab-ci-local --list 2>&1 | grep -q "build:docker"; then
+            print_success "Syntax validation passed"
+        else
+            print_error "Syntax validation failed"
+            return 1
+        fi
+    else
+        print_warning "gitlab-ci-local not installed (optional, for local validation)"
+        print_info "Install: npm install -g gitlab-ci-local"
+    fi
+
+    # Check required stages
+    print_info "Checking required stages..."
+    for stage in "build" "test" "deploy"; do
+        if grep -q "\- $stage" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+            print_success "Stage '$stage' defined"
+        else
+            print_error "Stage '$stage' missing"
+            return 1
+        fi
+    done
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_docker_config() {
+    print_header "2. Validating Docker Configuration"
+
+    # Check Docker availability
+    if ! command -v docker &> /dev/null; then
+        print_error "Docker is not installed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    print_success "Docker installed: $(docker --version)"
+
+    # Check Docker daemon
+    if ! docker info &> /dev/null; then
+        print_error "Docker daemon is not running"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    print_success "Docker daemon running"
+
+    # Check BuildKit support
+    if docker buildx version &> /dev/null; then
+        print_success "BuildKit available: $(docker buildx version | head -n1)"
+    else
+        print_warning "BuildKit not available (will use legacy builder)"
+    fi
+
+    # Check Dockerfile
+    if [ -f Dockerfile.foxhunt-build ]; then
+        print_success "Dockerfile.foxhunt-build exists"
+    else
+        print_error "Dockerfile.foxhunt-build not found"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_docker_hub_config() {
+    print_header "3. Validating Docker Hub Configuration"
+
+    # Check if Docker Hub credentials are set (for local testing)
+    if [ -n "${DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME:-}" ] && [ -n "${DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD:-}" ]; then
+        print_success "Docker Hub credentials found in environment"
+
+        # Test Docker Hub login
+        print_info "Testing Docker Hub authentication..."
+        if echo "$DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD" | docker login -u "$DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME" --password-stdin docker.io &> /dev/null; then
+            print_success "Docker Hub authentication successful"
+        else
+            print_error "Docker Hub authentication failed"
+            return 1
+        fi
+    else
+        print_warning "Docker Hub credentials not set in environment (OK for GitLab CI/CD)"
+        print_info "For GitLab CI/CD, set these in: Settings → CI/CD → Variables"
+        print_info "  - DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME (your Docker Hub username)"
+        print_info "  - DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD (Docker Hub access token, NOT password)"
+    fi
+
+    # Check Docker Hub repository
+    print_info "Checking Docker Hub repository configuration..."
+    REPO=$(grep "DOCKER_HUB_REPO:" .gitlab-ci.yml | awk '{print $2}')
+    if [ -n "$REPO" ]; then
+        print_success "Docker Hub repository: $REPO"
+    else
+        print_error "DOCKER_HUB_REPO not defined in .gitlab-ci.yml"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_build_artifacts() {
+    print_header "4. Validating Build Artifacts"
+
+    # Check if hyperopt binaries exist
+    print_info "Checking for hyperopt binaries..."
+    local binaries=(
+        "hyperopt_mamba2_demo"
+        "hyperopt_dqn_demo"
+        "hyperopt_ppo_demo"
+        "hyperopt_tft_demo"
+    )
+
+    local missing_count=0
+    for binary in "${binaries[@]}"; do
+        if [ -f "target/release/$binary" ]; then
+            print_success "$binary exists ($(du -h "target/release/$binary" | cut -f1))"
+        else
+            print_warning "$binary not found (will be built in CI/CD)"
+            ((missing_count++))
+        fi
+    done
+
+    if [ $missing_count -eq ${#binaries[@]} ]; then
+        print_warning "No hyperopt binaries found locally (expected for clean checkout)"
+        print_info "Binaries will be built during Docker image build"
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_gitlab_runner() {
+    print_header "5. Validating GitLab Runner Configuration"
+
+    # Check if gitlab-runner is installed
+    if command -v gitlab-runner &> /dev/null; then
+        print_success "GitLab Runner installed: $(gitlab-runner --version | head -n1)"
+
+        # Check registered runners
+        print_info "Checking registered runners..."
+        if gitlab-runner list 2>&1 | grep -q "Executor"; then
+            print_success "GitLab Runner registered"
+            gitlab-runner list 2>&1 | grep "Executor" | while read -r line; do
+                print_info "  $line"
+            done
+        else
+            print_warning "No GitLab Runners registered locally"
+        fi
+    else
+        print_warning "GitLab Runner not installed locally (OK if using GitLab.com shared runners)"
+        print_info "For self-hosted runner: https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/"
+    fi
+
+    # Check .gitlab-ci.yml for runner tags
+    print_info "Checking runner tags in .gitlab-ci.yml..."
+    if grep -q "tags:" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        grep "tags:" .gitlab-ci.yml | while read -r line; do
+            print_info "  $line"
+        done
+        print_success "Runner tags configured"
+    else
+        print_warning "No runner tags specified (will use any available runner)"
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_ci_variables() {
+    print_header "6. Validating CI/CD Variables"
+
+    print_info "Required GitLab CI/CD Variables (set in GitLab UI):"
+    print_info "  - DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME (required)"
+    print_info "  - DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD (required, use access token)"
+
+    print_info ""
+    print_info "Optional CI/CD Variables:"
+    print_info "  - SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL (for notifications)"
+    print_info "  - DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL (for notifications)"
+
+    # Check if variables are referenced in .gitlab-ci.yml
+    if grep -q "DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME" .gitlab-ci.yml && grep -q "DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        print_success "Required variables referenced in .gitlab-ci.yml"
+    else
+        print_error "Required variables not referenced in .gitlab-ci.yml"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+validate_deployment_config() {
+    print_header "7. Validating Deployment Configuration"
+
+    # Check deployment stages
+    if grep -q "deploy:runpod:" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        print_success "RunPod deployment stage configured"
+    else
+        print_warning "RunPod deployment stage not found"
+    fi
+
+    if grep -q "deploy:runpod-staging:" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        print_success "Staging deployment stage configured"
+    else
+        print_warning "Staging deployment stage not found"
+    fi
+
+    # Check manual approval for production
+    if grep -q "when: manual" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        print_success "Manual approval configured for production deployment"
+    else
+        print_warning "No manual approval for production (all deployments automatic)"
+    fi
+
+    # Check environment configuration
+    if grep -q "environment:" .gitlab-ci.yml; then
+        print_success "Environment configuration present"
+    else
+        print_warning "No environment configuration"
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+simulate_local_build() {
+    print_header "8. Simulating Local Build (Optional)"
+
+    read -p "Run local Docker build simulation? (y/N) " -n 1 -r
+    echo
+    if [[ ! $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+        print_info "Skipping local build simulation"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    print_info "Building Docker image locally (this may take 5-10 minutes)..."
+
+    export DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1
+    export GIT_COMMIT=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+    export BUILD_DATE=$(date -u +'%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')
+
+    if docker build \
+        -f Dockerfile.foxhunt-build \
+        -t jgrusewski/foxhunt:test-local \
+        --build-arg GIT_COMMIT="$GIT_COMMIT" \
+        --build-arg BUILD_DATE="$BUILD_DATE" \
+        . 2>&1 | tail -20; then
+        print_success "Local Docker build completed"
+
+        # Validate binaries in image
+        print_info "Validating binaries in image..."
+        local binaries=(
+            "hyperopt_mamba2_demo"
+            "hyperopt_dqn_demo"
+            "hyperopt_ppo_demo"
+            "hyperopt_tft_demo"
+        )
+
+        for binary in "${binaries[@]}"; do
+            if docker run --rm --entrypoint="" jgrusewski/foxhunt:test-local test -f "/usr/local/bin/$binary"; then
+                print_success "$binary exists in image"
+            else
+                print_error "$binary missing in image"
+                return 1
+            fi
+        done
+
+        # Show image size
+        local size=$(docker image inspect jgrusewski/foxhunt:test-local --format='{{.Size}}' | awk '{ sum=$1; hum[1024**3]="GB"; hum[1024**2]="MB"; hum[1024]="KB"; for (x=1024**3; x>=1024; x/=1024) { if (sum>=x) { printf "%.2f %s", sum/x, hum[x]; break } }}')
+        print_info "Image size: $size"
+
+    else
+        print_error "Local Docker build failed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+# =============================================================================
+# Main Execution
+# =============================================================================
+
+main() {
+    print_header "GitLab CI/CD Configuration Validator"
+
+    print_info "Current directory: $(pwd)"
+    print_info "Git repository: $(git remote get-url origin 2>/dev/null || echo 'Not a git repository')"
+    print_info "Git branch: $(git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || echo 'Unknown')"
+    print_info "Git commit: $(git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo 'Unknown')"
+
+    local exit_code=0
+
+    # Run all validations
+    validate_gitlab_ci_file || exit_code=1
+    validate_docker_config || exit_code=1
+    validate_docker_hub_config || exit_code=1
+    validate_build_artifacts || exit_code=1
+    validate_gitlab_runner || exit_code=1
+    validate_ci_variables || exit_code=1
+    validate_deployment_config || exit_code=1
+
+    # Optional: simulate local build
+    if [ $exit_code -eq 0 ]; then
+        simulate_local_build || exit_code=1
+    fi
+
+    # Final summary
+    print_header "Validation Summary"
+
+    if [ $exit_code -eq 0 ]; then
+        print_success "All validations passed!"
+        print_info ""
+        print_info "Next steps:"
+        print_info "  1. Set GitLab CI/CD variables in GitLab UI (if not already set)"
+        print_info "     Settings → CI/CD → Variables"
+        print_info "       - DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME"
+        print_info "       - DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD (Docker Hub access token)"
+        print_info ""
+        print_info "  2. Push to main branch to trigger pipeline:"
+        print_info "     git push origin main"
+        print_info ""
+        print_info "  3. Monitor pipeline in GitLab:"
+        print_info "     Project → CI/CD → Pipelines"
+        print_info ""
+        print_info "  4. Manual approval required for production deployment"
+        print_info ""
+    else
+        print_error "Some validations failed"
+        print_info ""
+        print_info "Please fix the issues above before enabling GitLab CI/CD"
+        print_info ""
+    fi
+
+    exit $exit_code
+}
+
+# Run main function
+main "$@"