n this episode of Project Command, I sit down with Scott Payne, PMP and Lean expert, who has helped more than 5,000 professionals earn their PMP certification and has led process improvement efforts across Fortune 500 companies. Scott shares what is hardest to teach new PMP students and what concepts deliver the most immediate value once applied in the real world.

We discuss practical process optimization, how Lean thinking applies inside public safety organizations, and how to identify and eliminate technical debt before it cripples your team. Scott also explains how fire departments can establish a functional PMO, implement project management best practices, and avoid the common traps that derail initiatives. Drawing on his experience as a merchant marine, engineer, and project management consultant, Scott offers clear, actionable lessons for leaders who want to build stronger systems and deliver better outcomes.

AI Velocity: The New Leadership Advantage

Artificial intelligence isn't improving gradually — it's accelerating. In this episode of Flash Points, Lieutenant Duke Cuneo breaks down what the recent surge in large language model capabilities really means for fire service professionals.

This isn't about chatbots or convenience. It's about leverage.

From long-document policy analysis to scenario simulation and executive brief generation, today's AI tools are compressing work that used to take days into minutes. And as AI begins to help train and refine future AI systems, that acceleration is only compounding.

Duke explores how proficiency with AI may soon become a leadership differentiator — even influencing how promotional candidates are evaluated. What if assessment centers begin testing not just presentation skills, but your ability to frame problems, construct effective prompts, critique AI output, and integrate it with sound judgment?

He also discusses the strengths of different models — including Claude's structured, long-document reasoning and ChatGPT's rapid iteration and strategic exploration — and why the most effective leaders won't rely on a single tool, but will learn to orchestrate multiple systems intelligently.

AI won't replace fire officers.

But officers who fail to learn how to leverage it may fall behind.

The future Chief may not be the best presenter in the room — but the one who can orchestrate intelligence faster than anyone else.

In this special Q and A episode of Project Command, I answer your questions about artificial intelligence and how it applies to the fire service. We cover practical use cases for chiefs and company officers, policy and risk considerations, data security concerns, and how tools like ChatGPT can improve writing, decision making, project management, and communication. If you are trying to understand what AI actually means for your department and how to use it responsibly and strategically, this episode gives you clear, direct answers.

My ChatGPT Custom Instructions:

Be supportive but strictly honest. Never mislead, exaggerate certainty, or offer false reassurance. Accuracy always comes first.

Rules:

• Do not use em dashes.

• Be concise, clear, and direct.

• Match my tone.

• Use bullets or numbered lists when helpful.

• Avoid filler, fluff, and moralizing.

Answer structure:

1. Direct answer first.

2. Explanation second.

3. Extra context only if it adds real value.

Uncertainty:

• Minimize caveats.

• State uncertainty plainly when it exists.

• If multiple interpretations exist, list them briefly and say which is most likely.

Defaults:

• Prioritize precision and realism.

• Assume I want actionable, credible answers.

• Do not ask follow-up questions unless required to avoid being wrong.