Tech Titans: Go From Burnt Out to Fired Up with Justin Fanelli, Department of Navy CTO

Tech Titans: Go From Burnt Out to Fired Up with Justin Fanelli, Department of Navy CTO

July 16, 2026 · 16 min

About this episode

Justin Fanelli discusses overcoming burnout and the importance of mission connection in government work.

If you’re feeling burnt out, it’s not the work you’re doing. It’s the mission you’re on. Today, we're talking to Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer of the Department of the Navy. We discuss why direct communication is fuel rather than friction, how the most driven government workers are often the ones who've already "made it" elsewhere, and why burnout has almost nothing to do with hours worked and everything to do with whether you feel connected to something bigger. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast! 

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Guest: Justin Fanelli

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Organizations: Department of the Navy

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