Stefano Silvestri began his career as a researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali in 1967. From 1974 to 1976, he was Deputy Director of the IAI and became Vice President in 1981. He was a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) from 1970-71 and was lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University in Bologna from 1972-76.

His varied career includes posts as special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, consultant to the President of the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Defence. During the Dini government, he was Under Secretary of State for Defence.

He is also a Member of the European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB) of the European Commission and Member of the Board of Directors of Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI).

He was elected President of the Institute of International Affairs on May 2001.