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.

In this episode of Project Command, I sit down with Lucy MacLeod, Borough Commander with the London Fire Brigade, USAR and technical rescue specialist, wellbeing dog handler, and author of the Lucy and Blue book series.

We explore the key differences between the fire service in the United States and the United Kingdom, from terminology and rank structure to operational approaches and culture. Lucy shares insight into Urban Search and Rescue in the UK and how technical rescue capabilities are structured within the London Fire Brigade.

We also dive deep into leadership and mentorship, including how senior officers can intentionally develop the next generation of fire service leaders. A major focus of our conversation is firefighter mental health and wellbeing, including Lucy's work as a wellbeing dog handler and how departments can create healthier, more resilient organizations.

Finally, we discuss her children's book series, Lucy and Blue, how storytelling can shape the culture of the fire service.

This episode offers a global perspective on fire service leadership, resilience, and the future of our profession.

Projects don't fail because people disagree.
They fail because no one is sure who gets to decide.

In this episode of Project Command: Flash Points, Lieutenant Duke Cuneo breaks down a hard leadership truth: consensus feels collaborative—but clarity drives results.

On the fireground, we instinctively understand unity of command. Someone has it. Everyone aligns to it. Input flows. Adjustments are made. But authority is never in question.

Yet in project work—especially in fire-EMS operations, staffing models, and policy changes—we often trade command for prolonged consensus. Meetings multiply. Feedback cycles expand. Alignment becomes the goal instead of progress. And slowly, the project drifts.

This Flash Point explores:

• Why discussion without direction creates a vacuum

• The difference between input and ownership

• How indecision quietly erodes trust

• Why clarity is leadership—not authoritarianism

• Practical behaviors clear leaders demonstrate consistently

Consensus can improve decisions.
But clarity is what makes them happen.

If you're leading a project right now, ask yourself:
Have I been clear—or just inclusive?

Clarity beats consensus. Every time.

In this episode of Project Command, Captain Peter Younes sits down with Keith Flip Griffin, a retired Navy Command Master Chief and nationally recognized expert in search and rescue and leadership. Drawing from decades of experience leading teams in high risk environments, Keith shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, trust, and what it really takes to build strong teams.

The conversation focuses on mentorship, not as a title, but as an active responsibility. Keith explains what effective mentorship looks like in practice, how leaders earn credibility with their people, and why consistent presence matters more than rank. Together, they explore how these lessons translate directly to the firehouse, from company level leadership to executive decision making. This episode offers practical insight for fire officers who want to develop their people, strengthen their crews, and lead with purpose.

Frustration Is the Enemy

Frustration doesn't just slow projects down — it quietly kills them.

In this Flash Points episode, Lieutenant Duke Cuneo breaks down why frustration is often more dangerous than failure, resistance, or lack of resources. Drawing clear parallels between incident command and project leadership, this episode explores how unclear authority, stalled decisions, and unmanaged uncertainty create frustration that leaks downstream and erodes discipline.

You'll learn why frustration is rarely a people problem and almost always a system signal — and what effective leaders do to absorb friction instead of transmitting it. From reducing ambiguity and defining clear lanes to naming the friction and shortening feedback loops, this episode delivers practical leadership tools you can apply immediately.

Because clarity is the antidote.
And leadership is the filter.

Grant writing is one of the most important and most frustrating tasks in the fire service. In this episode of Project Command, I break down my seven step grant writing process and show exactly how ChatGPT and other AI tools can support you at every stage.

From identifying needs and aligning projects with funding priorities, to drafting narratives, strengthening justifications, and refining final submissions, AI can save time, improve clarity, and help you produce more competitive grant applications. This episode focuses on practical, real world use cases, not hype or theory.

This is the fourth installment in the AI in the Fire Service series, following ChatGPT for Firefighters, ChatGPT for Fire Chiefs, and ChatGPT for the Fire Training Officer. If your department is short on time, staff, or grant writing experience, this episode provides a clear framework and ready to use ideas to help you get started.

Prompt 1: Find and Rank Grants for Extrication Equipment

You are acting as a grant research specialist for a municipal fire department.

I am looking for grant opportunities that can fund the purchase of new extrication equipment.

Please:
Identify federal, state, local, and private grant programs that commonly fund fire service equipment or rescue tools
Filter to grants open to municipal fire departments or public safety agencies
Note which grants are currently open or have upcoming application windows, if available

For each relevant grant, provide:
Grant name
Funding purpose
Typical award amounts
Key eligibility requirements
Application timeline or cycle
A direct link to the official grant website or application page

Rank the grants based on alignment with purchasing extrication equipment. If exact deadlines are unavailable, include the most typical application periods based on past cycles. Present results in a clear table or bullet format.

Prompt 2: Identify and Coordinate Grant Stakeholders

You are acting as a project manager and grant coordination specialist for a municipal fire department.

I am preparing a grant application to fund new extrication equipment.

Please identify all internal and external stakeholders involved in both the grant application and post award project execution.

For each stakeholder group, include:
Their role in the grant process
The information or support they provide
When they should be engaged in the process

Consider stakeholders across:
Fire department leadership
Operations and field personnel
Finance and budgeting
IT and data systems
Procurement and logistics
Training divisions
Legal or compliance, if applicable
Community partners or governing bodies, if applicable

Present the results in a clear table or structured list that can be used as a stakeholder coordination plan.

Prompt 3: Analyze Operational Data with Methodology and Assumptions

You are acting as a data analyst and project evaluation specialist for a municipal fire department.

I will provide four to five data tables related to department operations and project outcomes, such as incident volume, response times, equipment usage, training records, and costs.

Please:
Analyze each table to identify key trends and findings
Cross analyze the tables to identify relationships or correlations
Summarize insights that support a grant application or project evaluation

Also include:
A clear explanation of the methodology used
A list of assumptions made during analysis
Any limitations or data gaps that impact accuracy

Present the results with:
Key insights in bullet points
Supporting references to the provided data
A short methodology and assumptions section at the end

The goal is transparent, defensible analysis suitable for grant narratives or reporting.