A method and system for operating a gas turbine engine power system are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine system that includes a gas turbine engine coupled to an electrical generator through a first shaft wherein the gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a turbine drivingly coupled to the compressor and the electrical generator. The system also includes a variable speed electrical motor coupled to a load through a second shaft and a variable speed drive selectably couplable to the electrical generator during a starting sequence of the gas turbine engine system in a first configuration of the gas turbine engine power system and to the variable speed motor in a second configuration of the gas turbine engine power system.