A system, comprising: a turbine; a generator configured to couple to the turbine, wherein the generator is configured to provide power to an electrical grid; a starter configured to provide a voltage to a stator of the generator, wherein the starter comprises a first controller configured to control firing of one or more switches configured to provide the voltage to the stator; an exciter configured to provide a direct current voltage and a DC current to a rotor of the generator, wherein the exciter comprises a second controller configured to: receive a field reference voltage from the first controller; determine a current set point based on the field reference voltage; enter into a field current regulator mode based on the current set point, wherein the field current regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to provide the DC voltage to the rotor until a field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point; and enter into a field voltage regulator mode when the field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point, wherein the field voltage regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to regulate a field voltage feedback from the rotor to be substantially equal to the field reference voltage. a turbine; a generator configured to couple to the turbine, wherein the generator is configured to provide power to an electrical grid; a starter configured to provide a voltage to a stator of the generator, wherein the starter comprises a first controller configured to control firing of one or more switches configured to provide the voltage to the stator; an exciter configured to provide a direct current voltage and a DC current to a rotor of the generator, wherein the exciter comprises a second controller configured to: receive a field reference voltage from the first controller; determine a current set point based on the field reference voltage; enter into a field current regulator mode based on the current set point, wherein the field current regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to provide the DC voltage to the rotor until a field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point; and enter into a field voltage regulator mode when the field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point, wherein the field voltage regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to regulate a field voltage feedback from the rotor to be substantially equal to the field reference voltage. receive a field reference voltage from the first controller; determine a current set point based on the field reference voltage; enter into a field current regulator mode based on the current set point, wherein the field current regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to provide the DC voltage to the rotor until a field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point; and enter into a field voltage regulator mode when the field current feedback from the rotor is equal to or greater than the current set point, wherein the field voltage regulator mode is configured to cause the exciter to regulate a field voltage feedback from the rotor to be substantially equal to the field reference voltage.