In 1944, was promoted to lieutenant; in 1949, to captain and in 1955, to commander.
By 1972 he was Chief of Naval Shipyards.
On December 12, 1972, President Salvador Allende named him Minister of Public Works as part of his "military cabinet".
Following the coup, he was reappointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs until 1974.
Due to the extremely bad image of the military regime immediately after the coup, he was replaced in June 1974, by Admiral Patricio Carvajal.
On July 30, 1974 Huerta was named Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN.
He held this position until May 16, 1977, when he was replaced by Sergio Diez.
On June 2 of the same year, he retired from the navy.