 Previously, Regueiro was the Deputy Minister of MINFAR in charge of Economic Activity and was in charge of Cuba's holding company, GAE SA, which is the holding company for the commercial activities belonging to MINFAR, the Cuban Armed Forces Ministry.It manages much of Cuba's lucrative tourist industry (such as the company Gaviota) along with agriculture, import-export businesses, retail stores and other enterprises.On February 24, 2008, he was named as one of Cuba's Vice-Presidents and as Minister of Defense, succeeding long-time Defense Minister Raúl Castro, who was named as President of Cuba on the same day.