SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                         Date of Report: April 21, 2004


                                ESSEX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



Commission File No.  1-31703


         Virginia                                                   54-0846569
(State or other jurisdiction of                          (IRS Employer ID No.)
incorporation or organization)



         9150 Guilford Road
         Columbia, Maryland                                         21046-2306
(Address of principal executive office)                             (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:             (301) 939-7000





                                ESSEX CORPORATION


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

         On April 21, 2004, Essex Corporation  issued a press release announcing
that it has  entered  into an  exclusive  Letter of Intent to  acquire  Computer
Science  Innovations  (CSI) of Melbourne,  Florida.  A copy of the  Registrant's
press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

   (c)  Exhibits

        99.1   Press Release dated April 21, 2004, issued by Essex Corporation.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            ESSEX CORPORATION
                                            (Registrant)


                                            /S/ LEONARD E. MOODISPAW
                                            --------------------------------
DATE:  April 22, 2004                       Leonard E. Moodispaw
                                            President and CEO






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
NUMBER       DESCRIPTION


99.1         Press Release dated April 21, 2004, issued by Essex Corporation.