Kubestronaut Program Standards of Excellence

Why We Are Establishing Standards

Becoming a Kubestronaut is a milestone that recognizes your commitment to cloud native education and community engagement. While Kubestronauts are not CNCF Ambassadors, you represent the program and the community once you earn this title.

To uphold the value and integrity of the program, we’re introducing Standards of Excellence to guide your engagement, promotion, and conduct as a Kubestronaut. Guidelines ensure the program continues to be inclusive, educational, and community-driven—free of exploitation or misrepresentation.

“The Standards of Excellence apply to Kubestronauts and Golden Kubestronauts. For clarity, ‘Kubestronaut’ refers to individuals holding either title throughout this document.”

Scope

If you are a Kubestronaut, the Standards of Excellence  apply to every activity you attend or participate in. This document will outline appropriate conduct based on:

  • Representing yourself as a Kubestronaut (online or offline)
  • Sharing your unique referral code or badge
  • Posting about the program or related training and certifications

Kubestronauts are also expected to comply with:

Be Kind, Welcoming, and Inclusive

  • Foster a welcoming environment for all skill levels
  • Encourage curiosity and learning, especially among newcomers
  • Share resources, answer questions, and be a positive force in the community
  • Celebrate others’ achievements without competition or exclusion

Be a Representative, Not a Salesperson

As a Kubestronaut, you may receive access to discount codes or resources to encourage others to start their training journey. These tools are intended to expand access and inspire participation—not to generate personal or business profit.

You may not:

  • Bundle CNCF-related discount codes with paid training or services
  • Use the Kubestronaut or CNCF brand to promote a private business or monetized product
  • Position yourself or your content as an “official” training provider or certification seller

Example of what not to do:

“Never pay full price for learning! Use my code and join my paid group for secret resources.”

Such messaging undermines the community-driven mission of the Kubestronaut program.

Be Clear, Accurate, and Respectful in Promotions

  • When sharing your experience or referral code, do so authentically and transparently
  • Avoid misleading claims, inflated rankings, or hyper-marketed language
  • Use official branding, hashtags, or logos only in accordance with CNCF guidelines
  • Do not claim CNCF endorsement unless explicitly granted

Amplify the Right Message

Kubestronauts are encouraged to:

  • Share their learning journey and what they found useful
  • Celebrate when others complete training or certifications
  • Promote free and open access to cloud native learning resources
  • Help demystify CNCF programs for new contributors

Promote the Brand with Integrity

The Kubestronaut name is part of the CNCF education and wider cloud native ecosystem. As part of your role as a Kubestronaut, you are expected to promote and enhance the CNCF brand and contribute to goodwill and positive relations among the foundation and other stakeholders in the cloud native ecosystem. Nonetheless, you can be honest and candid with constructive criticism, holding others accountable, identifying opportunities for improvement, and discussing potential challenges. However, always express yourself in a manner that is respectful and professional, and strive to also be tactful and sensitive to how your words may impact others.

Please:

  • Represent the Kubestronaut name and CNCF brands with care and pride
  • Never use your Kubestronaut title to make exaggerated or misleading claims
  • Do not associate Kubestronaut with political causes, offensive content, or polarizing campaigns
  • Let your positive work and community support speak for itself
  • Respect the any and all associated trademarks

Violations & Consequences

If CNCF determines that a Kubestronaut has misused their status, misrepresented the program, or violated any of the policies above, CNCF may:

  • Request removal of specific content
  • Revoke access to referral codes or benefits
  • Suspend or permanently remove the individual from the Kubestronaut Program

Questions or Concerns?

If you’re unsure whether a post, opportunity, or partnership aligns with these guidelines, or if you’ve observed misuse of the Kubestronaut name, contact us at: kubestronaut@cncf.io

We’re here to help you represent the program positively and responsibly.