Project Command

In this episode of Project Command, we tackle a wide range of questions that fire service leaders have to deal with every day: How should we think about staffing models, major capital purchases, hospital delays, education, budgets, and new initiatives? We start with the 24/72 shift and the ongoing conversation about how fire departments structure their workforce. We also look at the cost of fire e...

In this Q&A episode of Project Command, we tackle some of the biggest questions facing the modern fire service. What can we learn from projects that failed, and what can those failures teach us about planning, leadership, communication, and execution? We also look at firefighter retention and what the data actually tells us about why firefighters stay, why they leave, and what fire departments can...

With so many powerful AI platforms available, which one is actually the best? In this episode of Project Command, I compare four of the biggest AI platforms: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok. I share my experience using each one, where I think they excel, where they fall short, and which tools I find myself reaching for depending on the task. Rather than declaring one universal winner, we look at...

Firefighters are often promoted because they excel operationally, but success in administration requires an entirely different set of skills. Budgeting, procurement, program management, technology, human resources, communication, and organizational leadership are rarely taught before someone is expected to use them. In this episode of Project Command, we examine the administrative skills gap in th...

In this encore episode of Project Command, we break down one of the most important parts of managing any project: metrics. What should you measure? How do you know whether a project is actually making progress? Which numbers provide meaningful insight, and which ones only create the appearance of control? This episode explains what project metrics are, how to select measurements that align with yo...

In this Project Command AMA episode, Peter answers professional and personal questions covering artificial intelligence, project management, career transitions, and life outside the fire service. He discusses new updates to ChatGPT and Claude, how he is using AI to build forecasting and prediction models, and lessons learned while transitioning from field operations into an administrative role. He...

Deploying new equipment in the fire service takes far more than purchasing a new tool and placing it on the apparatus. Successful implementation requires planning, communication, training, evaluation, and a clear understanding of how that equipment fits into operations. In this Project Command Rewind episode, we break down everything you need to know about deploying new equipment the right way. Fr...

Welcome to the first Project Command Mailbag , where Peter Younes answers questions submitted by listeners from across the fire service. This wide-ranging Q&A explores artificial intelligence, leadership, project management, technical debt, and the challenges of leading complex initiatives in today's fire service. Peter discusses how AI is changing the profession, why technical debt can quietly be...

Technology is reshaping every aspect of the fire service, from emergency response and inspections to data management and community risk reduction. In this episode of Project Command, Jill Cotton joins the show to discuss how emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovation are transforming fire prevention and fire department operations. Jill shares her perspective on the future of th...

Not every equipment deployment is a success. Too often, new tools, apparatus, software, and technology are purchased with good intentions but struggle to gain traction once they reach the field. In this Project Command Rewind episode, we revisit one of the most important topics in fire service project management: how to successfully deploy new equipment. From initial planning and stakeholder engag...

Hazard Class Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Cc0F0Au2dlH3w1YTyMtzC?si=ede697056e3d4fe5   Jake Ryks is a firefighter, HazMat specialist with the St. Paul Fire Department, and the host of the Hazard Class Podcast. In this episode, Jake shares the story behind launching one of the fire service's most respected podcasts and how a passion for learning, leadership, and meaningful conversations h...

Culture Eats Projects for Breakfast Why do so many fire service projects fail despite solid planning, clear timelines, and strong leadership support? The answer often isn't found in the spreadsheet. In this episode of Project Command: Flash Points , Captain Duke Cuneo explores the hidden force that determines whether organizational change succeeds or stalls: culture. From strategic plans and staff...

In this encore episode of Project Command, we revisit one of the most important and overlooked challenges facing modern fire departments: technical debt.   Every time a project launches without complete policies, training, communication plans, documentation, or long-term sustainment strategies, organizations accumulate hidden operational debt. Over time, that "almost done" work creates confusion,...

What does it take to lead change in a profession built on tradition? In this episode of Project Command, I sit down with retired Dallas Fire Department Deputy Chief Daniel DeYear to discuss leadership, organizational change, and the realities of implementing large-scale initiatives in the fire service. Drawing on decades of experience, Chief Deyear shares his perspective on how the fire service ha...

https://youtu.be/hX3O1NTwVak?si=znbR1NPUDz0DL8q8 In the debut episode of  Project Command International , Duke Cuneo sits down with Deputy Commissioner Mick Morris of Fire and Rescue New South Wales for a powerful conversation on leadership, systems thinking, and the future of modern emergency services. With nearly 36 years in one of the world's largest urban fire services, Mick shares lessons lea...

Learn more about the Memorial Stair Climb UK team here and how you can support this historic project: https://memorialstairclimb.co.uk/ https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/memorial-stair-climb1 On this episode of Project Command, I sit down with Barnaby Long to discuss one of the most historic firefighter memorial projects ever attempted. Barnaby serves as the Managing Director of the Memorial...

On this episode of Project Command, Cpt.  Duke Cuneo sits down with Nate Smith , President of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus , to discuss what it takes to lead the largest supplier of used emergency vehicles in the United States. The conversation explores the operational and logistical challenges of managing fire apparatus sales and fleet operations at a national scale, including procurement, tr...

Captain Peter Younes brings listeners a special episode of Project Command with an exclusive reading of the opening chapter from the new book, Project Management in the Fire Service . In this episode, Peter reads the first chapter of the book and explores a problem every fire department faces but rarely talks about directly: we are exceptional at emergency response, but often struggle when it come...

Project Command is going global. Welcome to Project Command International — a new series exploring how fire service and public safety leaders around the world manage complexity, lead organizations, drive innovation, and execute at the highest levels. From Australia to Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, we'll sit down with some of the most respected voices in emergency services to discuss leaders...

You've heard the names: ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and Claude. But which one is actually worth using on the job? In this episode I put all four head-to-head and give you a straight answer. No sponsored takes, no tech jargon,  just an honest breakdown of what each one does well, where each one falls short, and which ones are worth paying for. Whether you're a firefighter, a chief, an EMS provider, or j...

n this episode of Project Command, we take a step back and look at what actually moves the needle inside a fire department. We talk about how to get real buy-in on projects and how to build momentum when there is little or no initial support. This is not theory. It is what works when you are trying to move people, resources, and priorities in a complex organization. This episode is driven by quest...

In this episode of Project Command, I sit down with Jared Vermeulen to talk about leadership in the modern fire service and what it really takes to build something that lasts. Jared is the author of The Modern Fire Officer and Building Legacy That Endures , and this conversation dives deep into the ideas behind both books. We move beyond tactics and operations and focus on the leadership skills th...

Recorded live from FDIC, this episode of Project Command features Duke Cuneo sitting down with firefighter Jeff Lenard from the Washington, D.C. Fire Department to break down one of the most complex and tragic incidents in recent memory. They walk through the January 2025 midair collision involving a commercial passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter over Reagan National Airport, examining what...

Recorded live from FDIC, this episode features a conversation with Bailey Farren, founder and CEO of Perimeter, about what is actually happening with AI in the fire service right now. We get into how her company is using AI to support fire departments, where agencies are seeing real value, and where things are still more hype than reality. Bailey shares what she has observed from working across de...

An ongoing conflict involving Iran has created significant disruptions to global energy markets and supply chains that directly affect fire and EMS operations. In this episode, Peter breaks down what that means on the ground for fire service leaders, using current data from the EIA, FBI, DHS, and other authoritative sources. We cover the real numbers on fuel costs and what diesel prices have done...