Minister Francisco Vidal is a History and Geography teacher graduated from the Universidad de Chile. As a public servant, he has served as counselor of the Metropolitan Regional Government (1993-2000) and Undersecretary of Regional Development and Administration of the Ministry of Interior (March 2000 – March 2003). He was then called to undertake the office of Minister Secretary General of Government (March 2003 – May 2005) and, later on, was appointed Minister of Interior.
Mr. Vidal holds a vast experience in education matters. He was a consultant for the Council of Superior Education at the Ministry of Education (1993), secretary of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the Universidad Central (1993-1998) and Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Administration Sciences of de Universidad Central (1998-1999).
He also held the position of Executive Director of the Foundation Chile 21 (1994-2000).
Likewise, he was appointed president of the Directive Board of Television Nacional de Chile, Director of Banco Estado since April 2006 and Director of the School of Government at Universidad Alberto Hurtado.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of National Defense, on March 12, 2009, he held the office of Minister Secretary General of Government.