diff --git a/internal/engine/title.go b/internal/engine/title.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc65b783
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/engine/title.go
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/GrayCodeAI/hawk/internal/types"
+)
+
+// GenerateTitle derives a concise, descriptive title for the session.
+// It attempts LLM-based summarization (3–6 words) on the initial conversation turns,
+// falling back to the deterministic JournalTitle if LLM titling is unavailable or fails.
+func (s *Session) GenerateTitle(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+	if s == nil {
+		return "Untitled Session", nil
+	}
+
+	titleCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	if j := s.Persistence().Journal(); j != nil && s.ChatLLM() != nil {
+		j.AppendSessionTitleLLMRequest(s.ChatLLM().Model())
+	}
+
+	title, err := s.generateTitleLLM(titleCtx)
+	if err == nil && title != "" {
+		if j := s.Persistence().Journal(); j != nil {
+			j.AppendSessionTitle(title)
+		}
+		return title, nil
+	}
+
+	// Deterministic fallback
+	detTitle := s.JournalTitle()
+	if j := s.Persistence().Journal(); j != nil {
+		j.AppendSessionTitle(detTitle)
+	}
+	return detTitle, nil
+}
+
+func (s *Session) generateTitleLLM(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+	msgs := s.Persistence().Messages()
+	if len(msgs) == 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no messages to generate title from")
+	}
+
+	// Collect first user message and optional assistant reply
+	var userMsg, assistantMsg string
+	for _, m := range msgs {
+		if m.Role == "user" && userMsg == "" {
+			userMsg = m.Content
+		} else if m.Role == "assistant" && userMsg != "" && assistantMsg == "" {
+			assistantMsg = m.Content
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if userMsg == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no user message found")
+	}
+
+	if len(userMsg) > 500 {
+		userMsg = userMsg[:500]
+	}
+	if len(assistantMsg) > 500 {
+		assistantMsg = assistantMsg[:500]
+	}
+
+	titlePrompt := fmt.Sprintf(
+		"Generate a concise 3 to 6 word title summarizing the user's intent in this session. Return ONLY the title text, with no quotes, no markdown, and no trailing period.\n\nUser request: %s",
+		userMsg,
+	)
+	if assistantMsg != "" {
+		titlePrompt += fmt.Sprintf("\nAssistant response summary: %s", assistantMsg)
+	}
+
+	llm := s.ChatLLM()
+	if llm == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no chat client available")
+	}
+
+	// Fast streaming call for title generation
+	reqMsgs := []types.EyrieMessage{
+		{
+			Role:    "user",
+			Content: titlePrompt,
+		},
+	}
+
+	result, err := llm.Stream(ctx, reqMsgs, types.ChatOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	defer result.Close()
+
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	for ev := range result.Events {
+		if ev.Type == "content" {
+			sb.WriteString(ev.Content)
+		}
+	}
+
+	raw := strings.TrimSpace(sb.String())
+	cleaned := sanitizeTitle(raw)
+	if cleaned == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("empty title returned by LLM")
+	}
+
+	return cleaned, nil
+}
+
+func sanitizeTitle(s string) string {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	s = strings.Trim(s, `"'`+"`")
+	s = strings.TrimPrefix(s, "Title:")
+	s = strings.TrimPrefix(s, "title:")
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	s = strings.TrimSuffix(s, ".")
+	if len(s) > 80 {
+		s = s[:80]
+	}
+	return s
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/title_test.go b/internal/engine/title_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f47553d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/engine/title_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/GrayCodeAI/hawk/internal/eventlog"
+	"github.com/GrayCodeAI/hawk/internal/tool"
+)
+
+func TestSession_SanitizeTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input string
+		want  string
+	}{
+		{input: ` "Fix authentication bug" `, want: "Fix authentication bug"},
+		{input: `Title: Refactor database schema.`, want: "Refactor database schema"},
+		{input: `title: Implement dark mode`, want: "Implement dark mode"},
+		{input: "`Add telemetry exporter`", want: "Add telemetry exporter"},
+		{input: "A very long title that exceeds the maximum allowable title length and should be truncated properly so it does not overflow UI headers or metadata fields", want: "A very long title that exceeds the maximum allowable title length and should be "},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		got := sanitizeTitle(tc.input)
+		if got != tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("sanitizeTitle(%q) = %q, want %q", tc.input, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSession_GenerateTitle_DeterministicFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	reg := tool.NewRegistry()
+	sess := NewSession("", "", "System prompt", reg)
+
+	sess.AddUser("Fix memory leak in websocket listener")
+
+	title, err := sess.GenerateTitle(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GenerateTitle failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if title != "Fix memory leak in websocket listener" {
+		t.Errorf("GenerateTitle() = %q, want 'Fix memory leak in websocket listener'", title)
+	}
+
+	// Verify title event in journal
+	j := sess.Persistence().Journal()
+	if j != nil {
+		var found bool
+		for _, ev := range j.Snapshot() {
+			if ev.Type == eventlog.SessionTitle {
+				if f, ok := ev.Data.(eventlog.SessionTitleFact); ok && f.Title == title {
+					found = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if !found {
+			t.Errorf("expected SessionTitleFact with %q in journal", title)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/preset/preset.go b/internal/preset/preset.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b0bca647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/preset/preset.go
@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+// Package preset implements agent preset configurations (DSH preset/agent-presets parity).
+package preset
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// Source represents where a preset was loaded from.
+type Source string
+
+const (
+	SourceBuiltin Source = "builtin"
+	SourceUser    Source = "user"
+	SourceProject Source = "project"
+)
+
+// Preset defines a reusable agent configuration manifest.
+type Preset struct {
+	Name           string            `json:"name" yaml:"name"`
+	Description    string            `json:"description" yaml:"description"`
+	SystemPrompt   string            `json:"system_prompt,omitempty" yaml:"system_prompt,omitempty"`
+	Model          string            `json:"model,omitempty" yaml:"model,omitempty"`
+	SubagentType   string            `json:"subagent_type,omitempty" yaml:"subagent_type,omitempty"`
+	CapabilityMode string            `json:"capability_mode,omitempty" yaml:"capability_mode,omitempty"`
+	SandboxMode    string            `json:"sandbox_mode,omitempty" yaml:"sandbox_mode,omitempty"`
+	Tools          []string          `json:"tools,omitempty" yaml:"tools,omitempty"`
+	DenyTools      []string          `json:"deny_tools,omitempty" yaml:"deny_tools,omitempty"`
+	Env            map[string]string `json:"env,omitempty" yaml:"env,omitempty"`
+	Source         Source            `json:"source,omitempty" yaml:"source,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Registry manages loaded agent presets with scope-based precedence (project > user > builtin).
+type Registry struct {
+	mu      sync.RWMutex
+	presets map[string]Preset
+}
+
+var (
+	defaultRegistry     *Registry
+	defaultRegistryOnce sync.Once
+)
+
+// Default returns the process-wide preset registry loaded with built-ins.
+func Default() *Registry {
+	defaultRegistryOnce.Do(func() {
+		defaultRegistry = NewRegistry()
+		defaultRegistry.RegisterBuiltins()
+	})
+	return defaultRegistry
+}
+
+// NewRegistry creates a new empty preset registry.
+func NewRegistry() *Registry {
+	return &Registry{
+		presets: make(map[string]Preset),
+	}
+}
+
+// Register registers a preset. Project presets override user presets which override builtins.
+func (r *Registry) Register(p Preset) error {
+	if p.Name == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("preset name cannot be empty")
+	}
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+
+	normName := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(p.Name))
+	p.Name = normName
+
+	if existing, ok := r.presets[normName]; ok {
+		// Respect precedence: project > user > builtin
+		if shouldOverride(existing.Source, p.Source) {
+			r.presets[normName] = p
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	r.presets[normName] = p
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Get looks up a preset by name.
+func (r *Registry) Get(name string) (Preset, bool) {
+	r.mu.RLock()
+	defer r.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	normName := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name))
+	p, ok := r.presets[normName]
+	return p, ok
+}
+
+// List returns all registered presets.
+func (r *Registry) List() []Preset {
+	r.mu.RLock()
+	defer r.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	list := make([]Preset, 0, len(r.presets))
+	for _, p := range r.presets {
+		list = append(list, p)
+	}
+	return list
+}
+
+// RegisterBuiltins registers standard core agent presets.
+func (r *Registry) RegisterBuiltins() {
+	builtins := []Preset{
+		{
+			Name:           "code-reviewer",
+			Description:    "Reviews code changes for security, style, and correctness",
+			SubagentType:   "explore",
+			CapabilityMode: "read-only",
+			SandboxMode:    "strict",
+			SystemPrompt:   "You are an expert code reviewer. Analyze changes carefully for correctness, edge cases, performance, and security.",
+			Tools:          []string{"Read", "Grep", "Glob", "LS"},
+			DenyTools:      []string{"Write", "Patch", "DeleteFile"},
+			Source:         SourceBuiltin,
+		},
+		{
+			Name:           "security-auditor",
+			Description:    "Audits codebase for secrets, vulnerabilities, and risky patterns",
+			SubagentType:   "explore",
+			CapabilityMode: "read-only",
+			SandboxMode:    "strict",
+			SystemPrompt:   "You are a cybersecurity auditor. Scan the codebase for hardcoded credentials, injection risks, and insecure configurations.",
+			Tools:          []string{"Read", "Grep", "Glob", "LS", "CodeSearch"},
+			DenyTools:      []string{"Write", "Patch", "Bash"},
+			Source:         SourceBuiltin,
+		},
+		{
+			Name:           "architect",
+			Description:    "System architecture and implementation planning specialist",
+			SubagentType:   "plan",
+			CapabilityMode: "read-only",
+			SandboxMode:    "workspace",
+			SystemPrompt:   "You are a senior software architect. Analyze requirements, assess system structure, and produce structured implementation plans.",
+			Tools:          []string{"Read", "Grep", "Glob", "LS", "CodeSearch"},
+			DenyTools:      []string{"Write", "DeleteFile"},
+			Source:         SourceBuiltin,
+		},
+		{
+			Name:           "pair-programmer",
+			Description:    "General interactive assistant with full coding capabilities",
+			SubagentType:   "general-purpose",
+			CapabilityMode: "all",
+			SandboxMode:    "workspace",
+			SystemPrompt:   "You are a collaborative pair programmer. Write high-quality, verified code following project conventions.",
+			Source:         SourceBuiltin,
+		},
+		{
+			Name:           "debugger",
+			Description:    "Root-cause diagnostic specialist for test and runtime failures",
+			SubagentType:   "general-purpose",
+			CapabilityMode: "read-write",
+			SandboxMode:    "workspace",
+			SystemPrompt:   "You are a diagnostic debugging specialist. Investigate failures, inspect logs and call traces, and craft precise fixes.",
+			Source:         SourceBuiltin,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, p := range builtins {
+		_ = r.Register(p)
+	}
+}
+
+// LoadFromDir scans a directory for JSON/YAML preset definitions.
+func (r *Registry) LoadFromDir(dir string, source Source) error {
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		ext := strings.ToLower(filepath.Ext(entry.Name()))
+		if ext != ".json" && ext != ".yaml" && ext != ".yml" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		path := filepath.Join(dir, entry.Name())
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		var p Preset
+		if ext == ".json" {
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &p); err != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+		} else {
+			// Minimal fallback for simple YAML
+			if err := parseSimpleYAML(data, &p); err != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		if p.Name == "" {
+			p.Name = strings.TrimSuffix(entry.Name(), ext)
+		}
+		p.Source = source
+		_ = r.Register(p)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func shouldOverride(current, candidate Source) bool {
+	weight := map[Source]int{
+		SourceBuiltin: 1,
+		SourceUser:    2,
+		SourceProject: 3,
+	}
+	return weight[candidate] >= weight[current]
+}
+
+func parseSimpleYAML(data []byte, p *Preset) error {
+	lines := strings.Split(string(data), "\n")
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(line)
+		if trimmed == "" || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "#") {
+			continue
+		}
+		parts := strings.SplitN(trimmed, ":", 2)
+		if len(parts) != 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		key := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(parts[0]))
+		val := strings.Trim(strings.TrimSpace(parts[1]), `"'`)
+
+		switch key {
+		case "name":
+			p.Name = val
+		case "description":
+			p.Description = val
+		case "system_prompt":
+			p.SystemPrompt = val
+		case "model":
+			p.Model = val
+		case "subagent_type":
+			p.SubagentType = val
+		case "capability_mode":
+			p.CapabilityMode = val
+		case "sandbox_mode":
+			p.SandboxMode = val
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/preset/preset_test.go b/internal/preset/preset_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8b11cc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/preset/preset_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+package preset
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestPreset_Builtins(t *testing.T) {
+	reg := Default()
+
+	p, ok := reg.Get("code-reviewer")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected code-reviewer builtin preset")
+	}
+	if p.SubagentType != "explore" {
+		t.Errorf("SubagentType = %q, want explore", p.SubagentType)
+	}
+	if p.CapabilityMode != "read-only" {
+		t.Errorf("CapabilityMode = %q, want read-only", p.CapabilityMode)
+	}
+	if p.SandboxMode != "strict" {
+		t.Errorf("SandboxMode = %q, want strict", p.SandboxMode)
+	}
+
+	p2, ok := reg.Get("architect")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected architect builtin preset")
+	}
+	if p2.SubagentType != "plan" {
+		t.Errorf("SubagentType = %q, want plan", p2.SubagentType)
+	}
+
+	list := reg.List()
+	if len(list) < 5 {
+		t.Errorf("expected at least 5 builtin presets, got %d", len(list))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreset_PrecedenceOverride(t *testing.T) {
+	reg := NewRegistry()
+
+	// 1. Builtin
+	_ = reg.Register(Preset{
+		Name:        "custom-agent",
+		Description: "Builtin version",
+		Source:      SourceBuiltin,
+	})
+
+	p, _ := reg.Get("custom-agent")
+	if p.Description != "Builtin version" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want Builtin version", p.Description)
+	}
+
+	// 2. User overrides Builtin
+	_ = reg.Register(Preset{
+		Name:        "custom-agent",
+		Description: "User version",
+		Source:      SourceUser,
+	})
+	p, _ = reg.Get("custom-agent")
+	if p.Description != "User version" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want User version", p.Description)
+	}
+
+	// 3. Project overrides User
+	_ = reg.Register(Preset{
+		Name:        "custom-agent",
+		Description: "Project version",
+		Source:      SourceProject,
+	})
+	p, _ = reg.Get("custom-agent")
+	if p.Description != "Project version" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want Project version", p.Description)
+	}
+
+	// 4. Builtin cannot downgrade Project
+	_ = reg.Register(Preset{
+		Name:        "custom-agent",
+		Description: "Builtin attempt",
+		Source:      SourceBuiltin,
+	})
+	p, _ = reg.Get("custom-agent")
+	if p.Description != "Project version" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q, want Project version", p.Description)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreset_LoadFromDir(t *testing.T) {
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// Write a JSON preset
+	jsonContent := `{
+		"name": "json-specialist",
+		"description": "JSON specialist description",
+		"subagent_type": "explore",
+		"capability_mode": "read-only"
+	}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tempDir, "specialist.json"), []byte(jsonContent), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Write a YAML preset
+	yamlContent := `name: yaml-specialist
+description: YAML specialist description
+subagent_type: plan
+capability_mode: read-only
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tempDir, "specialist.yaml"), []byte(yamlContent), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	reg := NewRegistry()
+	if err := reg.LoadFromDir(tempDir, SourceProject); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadFromDir failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	pJSON, ok := reg.Get("json-specialist")
+	if !ok || pJSON.Description != "JSON specialist description" {
+		t.Errorf("json-specialist = %+v", pJSON)
+	}
+
+	pYaml, ok := reg.Get("yaml-specialist")
+	if !ok || pYaml.Description != "YAML specialist description" {
+		t.Errorf("yaml-specialist = %+v", pYaml)
+	}
+}