Back home, former Army medic still saves lives.

• Position: Mid-Market FAST 40 - Combat Medical Systems - Company overview

As an Army medic, Corey Russ understood the challenges of trying to save a soldier's life on a chaotic battlefield. He also knew he could make a medic's job easier and potentially save more lives, which is the founding principle behind Combat Medical Systems LLC: Find or develop products that simplify medical treatment for the military.

Russ and two partners founded the Fayettevillebased company in 2008 with about $40,000 in savings and no prior business experience. But he spent 20 years in the military, including a stint as a Delta Force medic. In that time he also picked up valuable experience in purchasing for the Department of Defense. That meant he knew not just what medics needed but how the department went about sourcing and buying supplies.

Within 10 months, Combat Medical won its first big military contract for gauze it treated with a blood-staunching chemical. Every soldier now carries some in a field pack. The company's been awarded several other $10 million-plus contracts from the Pentagon, nearly quadrupling annual revenue between 2008 and 2010. The number of employees grew at the same pace, from three in 2008 to 12 in 2010. Eight more were added this year.

Some of its products include a needle that originally came in flimsy paper but is now wrapped in plastic and attached to a sterilization device. The company also develops its own specifications for products...