Our Story

A legacy of service & medical precision

Sonoran Medical Supplies was founded by Gus Pantelides, a Vietnam veteran who served aboard the USS Maddox. The company has been family owned and operated from the very beginning — and still is today.

The story behind Sonoran

From the deck of a destroyer to the doorsteps of Veterans

Every company says service is in its DNA. Ours can point to the hull number. The discipline, accountability, and mission-first mindset Gus brought home from the Navy is the operating system this company still runs on — through every business he built and every Veteran we serve.

Vietnam era

Service aboard the USS Maddox (DD-731)

Gus Pantelides served four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the destroyer USS Maddox, then stationed out of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

Coming home

An entrepreneur takes shape

Back home, Gus worked as a bail bondsman with ambitions beyond it. He founded a direct mail marketing company and ran it for 34 years, serving auto dealers across the country.

Into healthcare

Building in medical equipment

Gus began investing in medical equipment companies, eventually taking primary ownership of the Arizona-based business that became Sonoran Medical Supplies.

Today

Serving Veterans, family owned

The company holds the Tucson VA DME contract, serving Veterans throughout Arizona and into New Mexico — and now brings that same model to VA facilities nationwide. Entirely family owned, start to finish.

How we operate

From military precision to medical excellence

Time aboard a destroyer builds habits that don't fade: discipline, accuracy, accountability. Those same principles govern how we source, inspect, and deliver medical equipment to VA facilities and Veterans' homes today.

Precision standards

Every piece of equipment is inspected and function-tested before it reaches a Veteran or a facility — no exceptions.

Operational discipline

Consistent processes, clear communication, and on-time delivery, every order — the same way a ship runs its watch.

Service-first mindset

We approach every contract and every partnership with integrity and a mission-oriented work ethic.

Certified

A service-disabled Veteran commitment in medical care

We're proud to be a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. For us the certification isn't a contracting checkbox — it's a standing commitment to the people who wore the uniform, kept by people who wore it too.

Why veteran-owned matters
  • Integrity first. We carry forward the same standard of honesty and responsibility upheld in military service.
  • Mission-focused execution. The mission is simple: the right equipment, to the right Veteran, exactly when they need it.
  • Trust built over decades. A family business rooted in service, discipline, and long-term relationships.
FAQs

Straight answers for Veterans and facilities

How do VA contracts work?
We partner directly with VA medical facilities to supply DME and certified oxygen equipment. Our SDVOSB status gives VA contracting officers a streamlined, Vets First-eligible path to award, and Veterans a supplier dedicated to their care.
What equipment do you offer?
The full DME catalog — mobility, hospital beds, bathroom safety, bracing, lifts, and more — plus complete home oxygen solutions including concentrators, portable units, cylinders, liquid systems, and CPAP/respiratory support supplies. Everything we place meets VA medical standards.
Are repairs and maintenance included?
Yes. Our technicians handle preventive maintenance and rapid repair for the equipment we place. Downtime on critical medical equipment isn't acceptable for a Veteran who depends on it, and our response commitments reflect that.
What is your CAGE code and UEI?
Our CAGE code is 9G0N4 and our UEI is LWSQJU14QRC1.
Can Veterans afford this?
In most cases, yes — home oxygen and DME are typically covered through VA healthcare benefits. Our team helps Veterans navigate benefits and coverage so out-of-pocket costs stay as close to zero as possible.

Work with a company that's still serving.

Get in touch