Although not member of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Šedivý has served in various ministerial positions in ODS-led governments.

[2] In September 2007, he became the highest-ranking Czech in NATO's history when he became the Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning.

[1][3] Šedivý also served as Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO, between September 2012 and July 2019.

He was educated at Jan Neruda Grammar School, Charles University in Prague and King's College London (MA War Studies, 1994).

On 5 March 2020 the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency appointed Jiří Šedivý as new EDA Chief Executive upon recommendation of the Head of the European Defence Agency Josep Borrell.