The American Rocketeers: Dictates of a Conscience

World War II forced nations and individuals alike to make momentous moral choices. One of those individuals was Frank Malina, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s first full time director. Going against his deeply held personal convictions, Malina chose to lead the creation of America’s first ballistic missile program. Yet following the war, the U.S. government turned against him and declared him an international fugitive.

Join producer Blaine Baggett for a screening of excerpts from his documentary and reflections on Malina’s sometimes conflicting decisions - and the price he paid for them.

10:15 a.m. in the Rector's Forum | Sunday, February 26 | DVDs of the film will be available for purchase

Blaine Baggett is JPL’s Director of Communications and Education. During his previous career in public broadcasting, Baggett’s body of work has been recognized by virtually every major award competition, including the Peabody award, the Columbia-Dupont Journalism award, the Producer’s Guild of America award, the Writer’s Guild of America award, the Director’s Guild of America, and local, national, and international Emmy awards. He is co-author of Secret Intelligence and The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century.