I don't disagree that some of the executives should be face similar, perhaps even harsher, sentences, but just "following orders," even under "duress" does not

I don't disagree that some of the executives should be face similar, perhaps even harsher, sentences, but just "following orders," even under "duress" does not relieve a person of responsibility for their actions. Someone telling you to do something illegal does not suddenly make it legal. Ethics is a big deal in many engineering disciplines, and breaking those ethical codes can cost your your license in addition to facing legal consequences.