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Join: The Ready Room

The Ready Room is your personal leadership prep space—built for those who face complexity, command teams, and make decisions when it matters most.

Inside, you’ll find battle-tested tools, insights, and resources from Pete Gaynor—former FEMA Administrator, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marine.

What’s Inside:

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Leadership Insights

Explore in-depth articles and published pieces from Pete Gaynor—covering crisis leadership, public safety strategy, emergency management reform, and lessons from the field.

Whether it’s a national op-ed or a behind-the-scenes breakdown, each insight is shaped by real-world experience at the highest level.

An Inside Look:
The Essence of Leadership

Hear Pete in his element—talking real stakes and real leadership with a grounded approach in this featured episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast.

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Podcast Interviews & Features

Listen to Pete in conversation—unpacking real-world challenges, leadership philosophies, and what it takes to stay calm under pressure. Great for commutes, workouts, or your next gear-check.

✓ Get an inside look at Pete’s grounded approach
✓ Updated regularly with new content

A collage of six book covers, including 'Team of Teams' by General Stanley McChrystal, 'The Singularity is Near' by Ray Kurzweil, 'The First Shots' by Brendan Borrell, 'Bear Grylls Never Give Up' by Bear Grylls, 'Five Days at Memorial' by Sheri Fink, and '2063' by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis.

Pete’s Reading List

Books that shaped Pete’s actions.

✓ Handpicked titles
✓ Includes leadership insights from across sectors