FORT HOOD, TEXAS / RankWire.AI / – The U.S. Army has determined December 3, 2026, as the date for the execution of former Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The execution by firing squad is scheduled to occur at 1 p.m. Central Time at Fort Hood. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle officially confirmed the details in a memo, specifying the location, date, and method. Hasan was sentenced to death for the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, which resulted in 13 fatalities and 32 injuries at the Texas military installation.
The decision to proceed with Hasan’s execution was authorized by President Donald Trump, following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In accordance with military law, the president’s approval is required to execute a service member. This scheduled event will mark the end of a 65-year hiatus in U.S. military executions, with the last taking place in 1961 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Historically, Private John Bennett was hanged after being convicted of rape and attempted murder under military jurisdiction.
At the time of the attack on November 5, 2009, Hasan served as an Army psychiatrist. The assault occurred inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, where service members prepare for deployment. Thirteen people, including twelve active-duty personnel and one retired soldier, lost their lives. A military court convicted Hasan in 2013 on 13 murder counts and 32 attempted murder charges. The court-martial also ordered his dismissal from the Army along with the forfeiture of pay and allowances.
Legal Battles Spanning Over a Decade
Hasan’s legal journey extended beyond a decade as he pursued appeals through the military justice system. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces upheld his convictions and death sentence in March 2024. Subsequently, he filed a petition for review with the U.S. Supreme Court, which was denied on March 31, 2025. This ruling maintained the military court’s judgment and ended his quest for review by the highest court in the nation.
The execution will be carried out at Fort Hood, the same base where the mass shooting took place. During the attack, police shot Hasan, leaving him partially paralyzed; he now uses a wheelchair. Hasan admitted during his court-martial to carrying out the shooting, stating he wanted to prevent U.S. troops from deploying to Afghanistan and fighting Muslims. His statement was recorded as part of the official court proceedings.
The firing squad order signifies a rare military occurrence
The U.S. military has not executed a prisoner since April 13, 1961. Military death sentences must undergo multiple levels of mandatory review before execution can be executed. 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, marking the first use of a firing squad in decades within the military.
He remains scheduled for execution at Fort Hood on December 3 at 1 p.m. Central Time. The details regarding the method, location, and timing have been finalized. His case originated from the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood and proceeded through various military appeals. The Supreme Court declined to review his case further in 2025. The scheduled firing squad execution would be the first in the U.S. military in over sixty years.