After primary and secondary education at parochial and public schools in Washington, he attended the Catholic University of America, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1917.

A. Humphreys in Virginia through the end of the war in November 1918 and until May 1919, when he returned to civilian life and to his job with the District of Columbia government.

With only a few days left to conclude the 1936 season's work on northeast Luzon, Studds was forced on August 9, 1936, to suspend hydrographic survey operations and order Fathomer to seek shelter in Port San Vicente as a typhoon approached the area; it passed about 50 nautical miles (93 km) from Fathomerʼs position on August 11.

That afternoon, Studds ordered Fathomerʼs crew to prepare to ride out the storm, securing her gear and anchoring her in the inner harbor.

[1] Rain squalls associated with the typhoon arrived at Port San Vicente at about 0600 hours on August 15, 1936, and Fathomer began sending frequent weather reports to Manila.

[1] The wind and waves began to moderate at about 2200 hours, and by 2230 Fathomer's crew – all of whom survived the ordeal – could begin to work on deck again.

After daybreak on August 16, 1936, repairs began in earnest, and Studds ordered some crew members to go ashore to establish a camp and render assistance to local Filipinos.

[1] Canlaon and Aparri reached Port San Vicente at 1400 hours on August 20, and salvage operations began immediately.

[1] Studds wrote a vivid account of Fathomer's experience in the typhoon that appeared as an article in the December 1936 edition of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Field Engineers Bulletin.

Returning to the United States, Studds had various duties in the Washington, D.C., office of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and in 1938 he became assistant chief of the Charts Division.