![Staff Sgt. Thornton, a mortarman, conducts a radio check with his forward observer in Afghanistan on Aug. 31, 2013.](https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/v2/OTBP4OR3TRHPRO3DWN3QWFH5ZU.jpg?auth=edbbbe245170d2fd194b4635ccf420c0ba652984cbf58d6b13b8f7b0386b0536&width=2304&height=1728)
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNET’s space and emerging technology reporter. She has covered the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. During that time, she reported on some of the Defense Department’s most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges, including the F-35 jet, hypersonic capabilities and the creation of the Space Force.