Lieutenant Commander Thornton graduated from Gwynedd in 2003 and attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where she received her undergraduate degree and commission in 2007. She earned her first Master's degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2017. She is currently enrolled in an Advanced Education program sponsored by the Coast Guard to earn a Master's of Science in Environmental Science and Policy. She has served in Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Incident Management roles, and worked with federal space program partners to help modernize Coast Guard support of U.S. space operations. She is a qualified Type 2 Incident Commander and Type 1 Operations Section Chief under the National Incident Management System.