In this episode of Project Command, I'm joined by Jared Vermillion, author of The Modern Fire Officer, for a grounded conversation on what effective officer development really looks like in today's fire service. We dig into the soft skills that matter most for officers, including leadership, communication, conflict resolution, coaching firefighters, and building trust within a crew. Jared shares practical insights on developing people, navigating difficult conversations, and creating an environment where firefighters can grow and perform at a high level. This episode is ideal for current and aspiring officers who want to lead with intention, improve their influence, and become better leaders for their people.

If you don't measure it, you don't control it.

On the fireground, measurement is non-negotiable. We track air, time, accountability, and benchmarks because guesswork gets people hurt. But too often, when we step into projects—that same discipline disappears.

In this Flash Points episode, Lieutenant Duke Cuneo draws a direct line between fireground command and project management. Being busy doesn't mean you're making progress. Meetings, emails, and spreadsheets don't equal control. Data does.

This episode breaks down why most projects don't fail dramatically—they quietly drift. Costs rise. Timelines slip. Outcomes shrink. And leaders can't explain why, because nothing was measured.

You'll learn:

• Why unmeasured projects rely on hope instead of control

• How simple, usable metrics beat perfect data every time

• What SCBA air management teaches us about project performance

• Practical, repeatable indicators that bring clarity and accountability

Measurement doesn't mean drowning your people in spreadsheets. It means asking the right questions, tracking what matters, and adjusting before surprises catch you off guard.

Because whether you're running a fire or running a project, the rule never changes:
What you don't measure, you don't control.

In this episode of Project Command, we break down project metrics and how to use them to understand whether your project is actually on track. We cover what to measure, when to measure it, and how to turn data into actionable insight so fire officers and project leaders can make better decisions before small issues become big problems.