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: May 12, 2003


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



Commission File No.  0-10772


         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 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

        (c) Exhibits

            99.1  Press Release dated May 12, 2003, issued by Essex Corporation.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         The following  information is furnished pursuant to Item 9, "Regulation
FD Disclosure"  and Item 12,  "Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition."
         On May 12, 2003, Essex  Corporation  issued a press release  announcing
its financial  results for the first fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2003. A copy
of the Registrant's  press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and hereby
incorporated  by reference.  The information in this Form 8-K is being furnished
under Item 9 and Item 12 and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the  purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act"),
or  otherwise  subject  to the  liabilities  of such  section,  nor  shall  such
information  be  deemed  incorporated  by  reference  in any  filing  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933 or the Exchange  Act,  except as shall be expressly  set
forth by specific reference in such a filing.

                                   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/ JOSEPH R. KURRY, JR.
                                            ----- --------------------------
DATE:  May 12, 2003                         Joseph R. Kurry, Jr.
                                            Sr. Vice President, Treasurer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
NUMBER          DESCRIPTION


99.1            Press Release dated May 12, 2003, issued by Essex Corporation.