As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, and workforce displacement), along with the growing need for secure, enterprise-controlled “walled garden” AI environments. The session also examines how employers assess job readiness in recent graduates, highlight skill gaps, and prioritize training in areas such as AI ethics, prompt engineering, and system integration. These findings inform curriculum development and re-skilling strategies to align education with real-world needs.