General Hood is a graduate of Pittsburg (KS) State University In November 2004, Hood was commander of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, operator of the temporary detention facility at Camp X-Ray.

The International Committee of the Red Cross released a confidential report to the United States government saying that the American military had intentionally used psychological and sometimes physical coercion "tantamount to torture" on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

In May 2005, Hood released a report of investigation headed by him, announcing five cases in which the Koran was mishandled at the prison.

[2] Hood has come under criticism for his decision to force feed detainees with the use of a restraining chair.

Hood defended the decision, saying he would not allow one of the detainees to become a martyr, thereby creating more pressure to close the camp.