First Principles & Concepts

Most "AI adoption" right now isn't innovation. It is a faster broken process. A team buys a tool, wraps it around an existing workflow, and calls the speed bump "transformation." Outputs get faster. Slide decks get prettier. Emails get longer. Unclear requirements, fragmented data, accountability gaps, and compliance risk all stay completely intact, just moving at higher RPM. That is not a tech problem. It is a thinking problem. In a new piece on the FP&C Insights blog, our CEO Charles Hargett lays out the same first-principles discipline FP&C applies on facilities, healthcare administration, and project management engagements, and shows why it applies cleanly to AI deployment: - Define the problem before naming a tool. - Classify the data before pasting it anywhere. - Select the tool deliberately. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are not interchangeable. - Govern the output, or don't ship it. In federal and high-compliance environments, the cost of getting this wrong is asymmetric. One mishandled CUI event can outrun every productivity gain a firm books in a quarter. Governance is not the enemy of velocity. It is the only way velocity compounds. Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/dY-mQGkm #AI #Governance #FirstPrinciples #FederalContracting #CMMC

Most leaders treat culture like a project. Another initiative. Another set of values on the wall. Another offsite. Our COO, Karen Upton, makes the case that's exactly why it doesn't work. In her latest piece, Karen breaks down why culture isn't something you build directly. It's the output of three things every organization already has, whether they're intentional about them or not: structure, incentives, and leadership behavior. Her line that stuck with us: "You do not build culture by focusing on culture. You build it by running the business in a way that produces the outcome you want." If your culture isn't where you want it to be, the answer is probably not another initiative. It's a harder look at how the business is actually being run. Read Karen's full post: https://lnkd.in/g3ewd5su #Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #FirstPrinciples #SmallBusiness #TheFPCWay

A huge moment for FP&C! Our JV with The Building People, WellBuilt Strategic Solutions, has landed its first contract award: the U.S. Army Reserve’s Enterprise Building Control System (EBCS) IDIQ, a cornerstone program driving energy efficiency and infrastructure modernization across the Army Reserve. This is more than a win. It’s the launch of a JV built with purpose: a unified team that’s veteran-led, mission-focused, and ready to deliver real results and lasting impact. A defining first win, and a clear signal of what this JV was built to deliver next.  

We are hiring! Please pass this along if you know of someone interested in working with us. https://lnkd.in/gieaPW2F

CMMC Level 2 achieved!  FP&C has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2, confirming our ability to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in mission environments where failure has real consequences. Cybersecurity isn’t a parallel function for us. It’s inseparable from execution. As our President & CEO, Charles Hargett, put it:  “This isn’t about optics. It’s about operational trust.  When missions carry real stakes, security has to hold under pressure.” Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gVZH3gSw    #CMMC #CMMCLevel2 #Cybersecurity #GovCon #MissionExecution #OperationalDiscipline #SDVOSB

As the year comes to a close and we're in the heart of the holiday season, we’re reflecting on what truly made this year meaningful.   It wasn’t just the contracts awarded or the milestones reached.   It was the people.   The teammates who showed up for one another.   The partners who trusted us.   The clients who allowed us to support missions that matter.   At FP&C, our work is rooted in service, to each other, to our partners, and to the public missions we’re privileged to support. That commitment doesn’t end with a deliverable or a fiscal year.   During this holiday season, we’re grateful for the relationships built, the challenges tackled together, and the opportunity to do work that makes a real difference. Wishing you and yours a season of rest, reflection, and time well spent with the people who matter most.    We’re grateful for the trust placed in us and energized by the work ahead.   Here’s to continuing to serve with clarity, integrity, and purpose in the year to come.   — The FP&C Team #happyholidays #govcon #thefpcway

This past year stretched many of us in ways we didn't expect. There were long days, heavy loads, and a pace that wasn’t always easy. Wherever you land this week, whether you’re taking a real break or simply trying to catch your breath, we hope you find little moments that bring the most important things back into focus. We’re grateful for the collaboration and trust that shaped our work this year and for the moments outside of it that matter most. Wishing you a safe and restful Thanksgiving. #Thanksgiving #gratitude #fpconcepts #govcon

This Veterans Day, we reflect on the true measure of service. It isn’t defined by time in uniform or the medals earned, but by the integrity, discipline, and quiet accountability that carry forward. Those who’ve served know that service doesn’t stop; it changes form. It shows up in how we lead, how we support one another, and how we choose purpose over comfort, every day. Today and always, we’re proud to stand among those who have served and continue to serve. In every mission, every challenge, and every act of integrity that follows. #VeteransDay #veteranowned #MyVetBiz

Proud of our President/CEO Charles Hargett for being selected for the #CEOcircle2026 program, a year‑long experience by IVMF and JPMorgan Chase that helps veteran and military‑spouse CEOs grow through collaboration and executive education. We can’t wait to apply what he learns to make FP&C even stronger!

It’s Team Tuesday, and we’re excited to introduce a few new faces on the FP&C team! What makes this crew special isn’t just their expertise; it’s the creativity, curiosity, and stories they bring with them. 1. Eileen Doty – Senior Healthcare Project & Risk Manager A professional violinist who knows a thing or two about striking the right chord (on and off the stage). 2. Dorrell McCall – Healthcare Program Analyst When he’s not diving into data, he’s building worlds through video games and cartoons. 3. Yaasmeen Daud – Healthcare Program Analyst Recently reunited with her family in Ghana after 15 years, she managed to completely surprise her grandmother! 4. Nilesh Panchal – Senior Healthcare Statistician Numbers by day, harmonium and guitar by night, music keeps him balanced and inspired. Welcome to FP&C, Eileen, Dorrell, Yaasmeen, and Nilesh. We’re thrilled to have you on the team! #TeamTuesday #FirstPrinciples #GovCon