diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e2c735da..7f3ca107 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 !*.go
 !.gitignore
 !CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
+!CODEOWNERS
 !CONTRIBUTING.md
 !COPYRIGHT.md
 !DEVELOPMENT.md
diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efe115cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CODEOWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# bomctl maintainers will be the default owners for everything in the repo
+
+*       @bomctl/maintainers