A graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gorton's education and experience deals with the emerging trends in the curation of digital data as well as designing online applications with a user centric approach. His interests include pioneering news gathering methods and the subsequent dissemination to the public. Prior to studying in college and later graduate school, Gorton spent three years in the 82d Airborne Division as an infantry soldier training to jump from airplanes. His website is ActonGorton.com