FORT HOOD, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – The U.S. Army has designated December 3, 2026, as the date for executing former Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The firing squad method is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Time at Fort Hood. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle verified the specifics of the date, location, and method through an official memo. Hasan was sentenced to death for the 2009 attack at Fort Hood, which resulted in 13 fatalities and 32 injuries among personnel at the Texas military base.
The decision to proceed with Hasan’s execution was authorized by President Donald Trump, following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Under military law, presidential approval is mandatory before any death sentence can be carried out by the armed forces. The planned execution marks the end of a 65-year hiatus in U.S. military executions, with the last occurring in 1961 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Historically, the Army executed Private John Bennett by hanging after his conviction for rape and attempted murder under military jurisdiction.
At the time of the attack on November 5, 2009, Hasan was serving as an Army psychiatrist. He initiated the shooting inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, a facility where service members prepare for deployment. The assault resulted in the deaths of twelve active-duty personnel and one retired soldier. In 2013, a military panel found Hasan guilty of 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. The court-martial also mandated his dismissal from service along with the forfeiture of his military pay and allowances.
Years of legal battles culminate in execution order
Hasan’s pursuit of justice extended over more than ten years, during which he filed multiple appeals through the military justice system. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces upheld his convictions and the death sentence in March 2024. Subsequently, Hasan sought review from the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied his petition on March 31, 2025. This ruling solidified the military court’s judgment and concluded his efforts to seek further review by the nation’s highest judicial authority.
The execution will be carried out at Fort Hood, the same location where Hasan carried out the mass shooting. During the incident, police officers shot Hasan, resulting in him being partially paralyzed; he now relies on a wheelchair. During his court-martial proceedings, Hasan admitted to carrying out the shooting, stating he wanted to prevent U.S. troops from deploying to Afghanistan and fighting Muslims. His confession has been part of the official court record since then.
The firing squad order highlights a rare occurrence in military history
The U.S. military has not executed a prisoner since April 13, 1961. Military death sentences typically undergo several levels of mandatory review before implementation. Hasan’s case advanced through these appellate stages before President Trump approved the firing squad method. The Army has now officially scheduled the execution after extensive legal review over the years. This planned December execution will also be the first use of a firing squad in the military in many generations.
Hasan remains scheduled for execution at Fort Hood on December 3 at 1 p.m. Central Time. The Army has confirmed the method, location, and date for carrying out his sentence. His case began with the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and extended through years of military appeals. The Supreme Court declined to review the case further in 2025. If carried out as scheduled, this firing squad execution will be the first in the U.S. military in more than 60 years.