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 the fire service and the stress placed on people who are handed complex projects without enough training, authority, or support.

We also discuss two new initiatives designed to close that gap. The Institutional Knowledge Series will allow employees to share lessons and expertise through recorded presentations that become part of a searchable training library. A second initiative will explore using Coursera or a similar online learning platform to provide professional certificates in the modern administrative skills fire service leaders need.

The fire service invests heavily in operational readiness. It is time to bring that same commitment to preparing people for the work between emergencies.

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 your goals, and how to track progress throughout the life of a project. You will also learn how to use metrics to identify problems early, communicate clearly with stakeholders, support better decisions, and demonstrate whether your project delivered the intended results.

Whether you are leading a major organizational initiative or managing a smaller internal project, the right metrics can help you replace assumptions with evidence and keep the work moving in the right direction.

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 also shares strategies for managing scope creep, provides updates on his current projects, recommends books, and answers personal questions about mountain climbing and other interests.