A gas turbine engine comprises an electronic control unit adapted to control functions of the gas turbine engine and having a DC power input unit coupled to receive DC supply power and an ignition igniter coupled thereto. The ignition exciter includes an AC power input unit adapted to receive AC power from an AC power source within the gas turbine engine, a power rectification unit coupled to receive the AC power from the AC power source and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rectify the AC power into DC power, and a DC power output unit coupled to receive the DC power from the power rectification unit and configured to supply the DC power to the DC power input unit of the electronic control unit as DC supply power and/or the ignition igniter.