Project Command

In this episode of Project Command, we sit down with Dr. Johnny Torgeson—Operations Chief, leadership consultant, national speaker, and instructor—to talk about what leadership really looks like when it matters most.

Drawing from his military experience and leadership roles in high-risk professions, Dr. Torgeson breaks down the difference between authority and leadership and explains why the most effective leaders focus on people first. The conversation explores practical leadership theory, the lessons he carried from the military into emergency services leadership, and how those lessons apply to modern organizations.

We also dive into the importance of soft skills—communication, emotional intelligence, humility, and trust—and why they often matter more than technical expertise when leading teams under pressure. Dr. Torgeson shares real experiences, leadership failures that became learning moments, and actionable insights for leaders at every level.

Whether you're an officer in the fire service, a military leader, or someone responsible for guiding a team, this episode offers practical strategies and honest reflections on building stronger leaders and stronger organizations.

In this episode of Project Command, I sit down with Samson Desessa, author of Brotherhood is a Verb, to talk about what real leadership looks like when it is tested under pressure.

We explore his experience in the military and how it shaped his philosophy on mentorship, accountability, and taking care of your people. Samson shares what brotherhood truly means, why leadership is an action and not a title, and how consistent investment in others builds strong teams.

We discuss the responsibility leaders carry, the importance of presence and example, and how mentorship creates lasting impact far beyond rank or position. This conversation is about discipline, ownership, and building cultures where people thrive.

When Team USA Men's Hockey captured Olympic gold, the spotlight fell on one unforgettable performance — goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivering save after save with the game on the line.

But championships aren't won by heroics alone.

In this episode of Project Command: Flash Points, Lieutenant Duke Cuneo explores what fire service leaders and project managers can learn from Team USA's victory. Behind every defining moment is a disciplined system — one that creates clarity, reduces chaos, and allows individuals to perform at their highest level when it matters most.

From the fireground to organizational change initiatives, leaders often hope talent, motivation, or individual effort will carry a project across the finish line. The reality is different: sustainable success comes from systems strong enough to support excellence under pressure.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why heroics matter — but systems make heroics possible

• How Incident Command principles translate directly to project leadership

• The danger of relying on "saving the day" as an organizational strategy

• How clarity, alignment, and preparation create championship-level teams

Great leaders don't eliminate heroics — they design environments where greatness can emerge without chaos.

Because heroics win moments.

Systems win championships.

Project Command: Flash Points delivers quick, high-impact insights that turn big project management concepts into practical leadership tools for the fire service.

🎙️ Connect with us on LinkedIn for continued discussion and behind-the-scenes insights with Lieutenant Duke Cuneo and Captain Peter Younes. 📺 Watch video versions and extended content on the Project Command YouTube channel. 📧 Questions or future episode ideas? Email: [email protected]

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.