Project Command
By Peter Younes & Duke Cuneo
Categories: Business, Management, Government
Project Command is a podcast dedicated to exploring project management and execution in the fire service. Hosted by Captain Peter Younes, PMP, and Captain Duke Cuneo, PMP, the show dives into the art and science of leading complex projects, building effective teams, and integrating proven project management practices into fire department operations. Each episode brings practical insights, real-world examples, and lessons learned from initiatives that shape the future of public safety—helping fire service leaders at all levels turn ideas into action and get things done.
69 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- 24/72 Shift, Hospital Offload Delays, Do You Need a College Degree, Budget Cuts
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…
- Project Command Q&A: Failed Projects, Retention, AI Safety & Promotions
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…
- ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini vs. Grok: My Take
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…
- The Modern Fire Service Skills Gap
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…
- Project Command Encore: Project Metrics
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…
- Project Command AMA: ChatGPT and Claude Updates, Building Prediction Models, Admin Challenges, and Mountain Climbing
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…
- Project Command Rewind: Getting New Equipment in Service the Right Way
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…
- Project Command Mailbag: AI, Leadership, Technical Debt, and Challenging Projects
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…
- Jill Cotton: How Emerging Technology Is Changing Fire Department Operations
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…
- Project Command Rewind: Getting New Equipment in Service
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…
- Jake Ryks: Leadership, Podcasting, and Lessons from the Biggest Names in the Fire Service
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…
- Flash Points: Culture Eats Projects For Breakfast
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…
- Project Command Rewind: Technical Debt in the Fire Service
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…
- Daniel DeYear: Leading Change in the Fire Service
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…
- Project Command International with Deputy Commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, Michael "Mick" Morris
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…
- Barnaby Long: The Historic Project Bringing 343 UK Firefighters to the Patriot Day Memorial Climb In Atlanta
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…
- Live from FDIC: Nate Smith on Running America's Largest Used Fire Apparatus Company
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…
- Project Command Exclusive: Project Management in the Fire Service Chapter 1
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…
- NEW SERIES COMING SOON: Project Command International
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…
- ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini & Claude — Which One Is Actually the Best?
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…
- Project Command Q and A: Is AI Overhyped? Where Are Drones Headed? Future of the Command Post, Stress, and Building Momentum
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…
- Jared Vermeulen: Communication, Trust, and Influence (Recorded LIVE from FDIC)
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…
- Jeff Lenard Live from FDIC: Lessons from the Flight 5342 Black Hawk Disaster
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…
- Live From FDIC: AI in the Fire Service with Bailey Farren
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…
- Iran Conflict: Implications for the Fire Service, the Energy Markets, and the Global Supply Chain
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…
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