diff --git a/docker/edge/dispatcher.sh b/docker/edge/dispatcher.sh
index 02718b6..109978a 100755
--- a/docker/edge/dispatcher.sh
+++ b/docker/edge/dispatcher.sh
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # dispatcher.sh — Edge task dispatcher
 #
-# Polls the ops repo for approved actions and launches task-runner containers.
-# Part of #24.
+# Polls the ops repo for vault actions that arrived via admin-merged PRs.
 #
-# Action JSON schema:
-# {
-#   "id": "publish-skill-20260328",
-#   "formula": "clawhub-publish",
-#   "secrets": ["CLAWHUB_TOKEN"],
-#   "tools": ["clawhub"],
-#   "context": "SKILL.md bumped to 0.3.0",
-#   "model": "sonnet"
-# }
+# Flow:
+# 1. Poll loop: git pull the ops repo every 60s
+# 2. Scan vault/actions/ for TOML files without .result.json
+# 3. Verify TOML arrived via merged PR with admin merger (Forgejo API)
+# 4. Validate TOML using vault-env.sh validator
+# 5. Decrypt .env.vault.enc and extract only declared secrets
+# 6. Launch: docker compose run --rm runner <formula> <action-id>
+# 7. Write <action-id>.result.json with exit code, timestamp, logs summary
+#
+# Part of #76.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -40,64 +40,282 @@ fi
 OPS_REPO_ROOT="${OPS_REPO_ROOT:-/home/debian/disinto-ops}"
 VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR="${OPS_REPO_ROOT}/vault/actions"
 
+# Vault action validation
+VAULT_ENV="${SCRIPT_ROOT}/../vault/vault-env.sh"
+
+# Admin users who can merge vault PRs (from issue #77)
+# Comma-separated list of Forgejo usernames with admin role
+ADMIN_USERS="${FORGE_ADMIN_USERS:-vault-bot,admin}"
+
 # Log function
 log() {
   printf '[%s] %s\n' "$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S UTC')" "$*"
 }
 
-# Clone or pull the ops repo
-ensure_ops_repo() {
-  if [ ! -d "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}/.git" ]; then
-    log "Cloning ops repo from ${FORGE_URL}/${FORGE_OPS_REPO}..."
-    git clone "${FORGE_URL}/${FORGE_OPS_REPO}" "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}"
-  else
-    log "Pulling latest ops repo changes..."
-    (cd "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}" && git pull --rebase)
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Forge API helpers for admin verification
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Check if a user has admin role
+# Usage: is_user_admin <username>
+# Returns: 0=yes, 1=no
+is_user_admin() {
+  local username="$1"
+  local user_json
+
+  # Fetch user info from Forgejo API
+  user_json=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
+    "${FORGE_URL}/api/v1/users/${username}" 2>/dev/null) || return 1
+
+  # Forgejo uses .is_admin for site-wide admin users
+  local is_admin
+  is_admin=$(echo "$user_json" | jq -r '.is_admin // false' 2>/dev/null) || return 1
+
+  if [[ "$is_admin" == "true" ]]; then
+    return 0
   fi
+
+  return 1
 }
 
+# Check if a user is in the allowed admin list
+# Usage: is_allowed_admin <username>
+# Returns: 0=yes, 1=no
+is_allowed_admin() {
+  local username="$1"
+  local admin_list
+  admin_list=$(echo "$ADMIN_USERS" | tr ',' '\n')
+
+  while IFS= read -r admin; do
+    admin=$(echo "$admin" | xargs)  # trim whitespace
+    if [[ "$username" == "$admin" ]]; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done <<< "$admin_list"
+
+  # Also check via API if not in static list
+  if is_user_admin "$username"; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Get the PR that introduced a specific file to vault/actions
+# Usage: get_pr_for_file <file_path>
+# Returns: PR number or empty if not found via PR
+get_pr_for_file() {
+  local file_path="$1"
+  local file_name
+  file_name=$(basename "$file_path")
+
+  # Get recent commits that added this specific file
+  local commits
+  commits=$(git -C "$OPS_REPO_ROOT" log --oneline --diff-filter=A -- "vault/actions/${file_name}" 2>/dev/null | head -20) || true
+
+  if [ -z "$commits" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  # For each commit, check if it's a merge commit from a PR
+  while IFS= read -r commit; do
+    local commit_sha commit_msg
+
+    commit_sha=$(echo "$commit" | awk '{print $1}')
+    commit_msg=$(git -C "$OPS_REPO_ROOT" log -1 --format="%B" "$commit_sha" 2>/dev/null) || continue
+
+    # Check if this is a merge commit (has "Merge pull request" in message)
+    if [[ "$commit_msg" =~ "Merge pull request" ]]; then
+      # Extract PR number from merge message (e.g., "Merge pull request #123")
+      local pr_num
+      pr_num=$(echo "$commit_msg" | grep -oP '#\d+' | head -1 | tr -d '#') || true
+
+      if [ -n "$pr_num" ]; then
+        echo "$pr_num"
+        return 0
+      fi
+    fi
+  done <<< "$commits"
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Get PR merger info
+# Usage: get_pr_merger <pr_number>
+# Returns: JSON with merger username and merged timestamp
+get_pr_merger() {
+  local pr_number="$1"
+
+  curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
+    "${FORGE_API}/pulls/${pr_number}" 2>/dev/null | jq -r '{
+      username: .merge_user?.login // .user?.login,
+      merged: .merged,
+      merged_at: .merged_at // empty
+    }' || true
+}
+
+# Verify vault action arrived via admin-merged PR
+# Usage: verify_admin_merged <toml_file>
+# Returns: 0=verified, 1=not verified
+verify_admin_merged() {
+  local toml_file="$1"
+  local action_id
+  action_id=$(basename "$toml_file" .toml)
+
+  # Get the PR that introduced this file
+  local pr_num
+  pr_num=$(get_pr_for_file "$toml_file") || {
+    log "WARNING: No PR found for action ${action_id} — skipping (possible direct push)"
+    return 1
+  }
+
+  log "Action ${action_id} arrived via PR #${pr_num}"
+
+  # Get PR merger info
+  local merger_json
+  merger_json=$(get_pr_merger "$pr_num") || {
+    log "WARNING: Could not fetch PR #${pr_num} details — skipping"
+    return 1
+  }
+
+  local merged merger_username
+  merged=$(echo "$merger_json" | jq -r '.merged // false')
+  merger_username=$(echo "$merger_json" | jq -r '.username // empty')
+
+  # Check if PR is merged
+  if [[ "$merged" != "true" ]]; then
+    log "WARNING: PR #${pr_num} is not merged — skipping"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  # Check if merger is admin
+  if [ -z "$merger_username" ]; then
+    log "WARNING: Could not determine PR #${pr_num} merger — skipping"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! is_allowed_admin "$merger_username"; then
+    log "WARNING: PR #${pr_num} merged by non-admin user '${merger_username}' — skipping"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  log "Verified: PR #${pr_num} merged by admin '${merger_username}'"
+  return 0
+}
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Vault action processing
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 # Check if an action has already been completed
 is_action_completed() {
   local id="$1"
   [ -f "${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}/${id}.result.json" ]
 }
 
-# Launch a runner for the given action ID
+# Validate a vault action TOML file
+# Usage: validate_action <toml_file>
+# Sets: VAULT_ACTION_ID, VAULT_ACTION_FORMULA, VAULT_ACTION_CONTEXT, VAULT_ACTION_SECRETS
+validate_action() {
+  local toml_file="$1"
+
+  # Source vault-env.sh for validate_vault_action function
+  if [ ! -f "$VAULT_ENV" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: vault-env.sh not found at ${VAULT_ENV}" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! source "$VAULT_ENV"; then
+    echo "ERROR: failed to source vault-env.sh" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! validate_vault_action "$toml_file"; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Write result file for an action
+# Usage: write_result <action_id> <exit_code> <logs>
+write_result() {
+  local action_id="$1"
+  local exit_code="$2"
+  local logs="$3"
+
+  local result_file="${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}/${action_id}.result.json"
+
+  # Truncate logs if too long (keep last 1000 chars)
+  if [ ${#logs} -gt 1000 ]; then
+    logs="${logs: -1000}"
+  fi
+
+  # Write result JSON
+  jq -n \
+    --arg id "$action_id" \
+    --argjson exit_code "$exit_code" \
+    --arg timestamp "$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')" \
+    --arg logs "$logs" \
+    '{id: $id, exit_code: $exit_code, timestamp: $timestamp, logs: $logs}' \
+    > "$result_file"
+
+  log "Result written: ${result_file}"
+}
+
+# Launch runner for the given action
+# Usage: launch_runner <toml_file>
 launch_runner() {
-  local id="$1"
-  log "Launching runner for action: ${id}"
+  local toml_file="$1"
+  local action_id
+  action_id=$(basename "$toml_file" .toml)
 
-  # Read action config
-  local action_file="${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}/${id}.json"
-  if [ ! -f "$action_file" ]; then
-    log "ERROR: Action file not found: ${action_file}"
+  log "Launching runner for action: ${action_id}"
+
+  # Validate TOML
+  if ! validate_action "$toml_file"; then
+    log "ERROR: Action validation failed for ${action_id}"
+    write_result "$action_id" 1 "Validation failed: see logs above"
     return 1
   fi
 
-  # Extract formula from action JSON
-  local formula
-  formula=$(jq -r '.formula // empty' "$action_file")
-  if [ -z "$formula" ]; then
-    log "ERROR: Action ${id} missing 'formula' field"
+  # Verify admin merge
+  if ! verify_admin_merged "$toml_file"; then
+    log "ERROR: Admin merge verification failed for ${action_id}"
+    write_result "$action_id" 1 "Admin merge verification failed: see logs above"
     return 1
   fi
 
-  # Extract secrets (array for safe handling)
-  local -a secrets=()
-  while IFS= read -r secret; do
-    [ -n "$secret" ] && secrets+=("$secret")
-  done < <(jq -r '.secrets[]? // empty' "$action_file" 2>/dev/null)
+  # Extract secrets from validated action
+  local secrets_array
+  secrets_array="${VAULT_ACTION_SECRETS:-}"
+
+  if [ -z "$secrets_array" ]; then
+    log "ERROR: Action ${action_id} has no secrets declared"
+    write_result "$action_id" 1 "No secrets declared in TOML"
+    return 1
+  fi
 
   # Build command array (safe from shell injection)
   local -a cmd=(docker compose run --rm runner)
 
-  # Add environment variables BEFORE service name
-  for secret in "${secrets[@]+"${secrets[@]}"}"; do
-    cmd+=(-e "${secret}")  # Pass actual value to container (from env)
+  # Add environment variables for secrets
+  for secret in $secrets_array; do
+    secret=$(echo "$secret" | xargs)
+    if [ -n "$secret" ]; then
+      # Verify secret exists in vault
+      if [ -z "${!secret:-}" ]; then
+        log "ERROR: Secret '${secret}' not found in vault for action ${action_id}"
+        write_result "$action_id" 1 "Secret not found in vault: ${secret}"
+        return 1
+      fi
+      cmd+=(-e "$secret")
+    fi
   done
 
-  # Add formula and id as arguments (after service name)
-  cmd+=("$formula" "$id")
+  # Add formula and action id as arguments (after service name)
+  local formula="${VAULT_ACTION_FORMULA:-}"
+  cmd+=("$formula" "$action_id")
 
   # Log command skeleton (hide all -e flags for security)
   local -a log_cmd=()
@@ -116,16 +334,52 @@ launch_runner() {
   done
   log "Running: ${log_cmd[*]}"
 
-  # Execute with array expansion (safe from shell injection)
-  "${cmd[@]}"
+  # Create temp file for logs
+  local log_file
+  log_file=$(mktemp /tmp/dispatcher-logs-XXXXXX.txt)
+  trap 'rm -f "$log_file"' RETURN
 
-  log "Runner completed for action: ${id}"
+  # Execute with array expansion (safe from shell injection)
+  # Capture stdout and stderr to log file
+  "${cmd[@]}" > "$log_file" 2>&1
+  local exit_code=$?
+
+  # Read logs summary
+  local logs
+  logs=$(cat "$log_file")
+
+  # Write result file
+  write_result "$action_id" "$exit_code" "$logs"
+
+  if [ $exit_code -eq 0 ]; then
+    log "Runner completed successfully for action: ${action_id}"
+  else
+    log "Runner failed for action: ${action_id} (exit code: ${exit_code})"
+  fi
+
+  return $exit_code
+}
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Main dispatcher loop
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Clone or pull the ops repo
+ensure_ops_repo() {
+  if [ ! -d "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}/.git" ]; then
+    log "Cloning ops repo from ${FORGE_URL}/${FORGE_OPS_REPO}..."
+    git clone "${FORGE_URL}/${FORGE_OPS_REPO}" "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}"
+  else
+    log "Pulling latest ops repo changes..."
+    (cd "${OPS_REPO_ROOT}" && git pull --rebase)
+  fi
 }
 
 # Main dispatcher loop
 main() {
   log "Starting dispatcher..."
   log "Polling ops repo: ${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}"
+  log "Admin users: ${ADMIN_USERS}"
 
   while true; do
     # Refresh ops repo at the start of each poll cycle
@@ -139,20 +393,21 @@ main() {
     fi
 
     # Process each action file
-    for action_file in "${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}"/*.json; do
-      # Handle case where no .json files exist
-      [ -e "$action_file" ] || continue
+    for toml_file in "${VAULT_ACTIONS_DIR}"/*.toml; do
+      # Handle case where no .toml files exist
+      [ -e "$toml_file" ] || continue
 
-      local id
-      id=$(basename "$action_file" .json)
+      local action_id
+      action_id=$(basename "$toml_file" .toml)
 
       # Skip if already completed
-      if is_action_completed "$id"; then
+      if is_action_completed "$action_id"; then
+        log "Action ${action_id} already completed, skipping"
         continue
       fi
 
       # Launch runner for this action
-      launch_runner "$id"
+      launch_runner "$toml_file" || true
     done
 
     # Wait before next poll