He joined the Malta Police Force as a Constable in 1967, was promoted to Sergeant in 1970 and was appointed inspector in 1976 where he was in charge of the Mobile Police Squad and later in charge of the Traffic Department which included the Fire-fighting and Rescue services.

In 1980 he was transferred to the Armed Forces of Malta in the rank of Captain and was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1992. During this period Mr. Cordina was in charge of the various operations performed by the Task Force, including Search and Rescue (maritime and airborne). He also introduced Information Technology to the Armed Forces. In the rank of Lt. Colonel, Mr. Cordina was in charge of the Administrative Sector of the AFM.

Mr. Cordina resigned from the Armed Forces in 1992 and was re-instated in the Police Force in the rank of Senior Inspector.

In 1997 he was transferred to the Corradino Correctional Facility as Acting Director and later Director.

Two years later, at his own request, he was transferred to the Civil Protection Department where he was appointed Director in the year 2000.

Mr. Cordina is a member of the EU Civil Protection Directorate for EU members/candidate countries, a Focal Point for the International Atomic Energy Agency, Secretary to the Civil Protection Council and Chairman of the Civil Protection Scientific Committee.

Mr. Peter Cordina is married and has four children.