diff --git a/git_release.sh b/git_release.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..784b5a8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/git_release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Exit immediately if any command fails
+set -e
+
+# Check if a version tag was provided
+if [ -z "$1" ]; then
+    echo "❌ Error: No version tag provided."
+    echo "Usage: ./release.sh <version_tag>"
+    echo "Example: ./release.sh v3.0.3"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+VERSION=$1
+PROD_BRANCH="master"  # Change to "main" if your repo uses main
+
+echo "🚀 Starting release process for $VERSION..."
+
+echo ""
+echo "📦 [1/3] Updating staging and creating tag..."
+git checkout staging
+git pull origin staging
+git tag -a "$VERSION" -m "ModelSEED.org Version $VERSION"
+git push origin "$VERSION"
+
+echo ""
+echo "🚢 [2/3] Merging tag into production branch ($PROD_BRANCH)..."
+git checkout "$PROD_BRANCH"
+git pull origin "$PROD_BRANCH"
+git merge "$VERSION"
+git push origin "$PROD_BRANCH"
+
+echo ""
+echo "✅ [3/3] Release $VERSION pushed to remote successfully!"
+echo ""
+echo "================================================================="
+echo "🖥️  NEXT STEPS ON THE PRODUCTION SERVER"
+echo "================================================================="
+echo "Log into your production environment (e.g., poplar:/vol/model-prod)"
+echo "and run these two commands to cleanly switch to the new release:"
+echo ""
+echo "  git fetch origin --tags"
+echo "  git checkout $VERSION"
+echo "================================================================="