A gas turbine propulsion system includes a shroud that defines a fluid flow path. A gas turbine engine in the fluid flow path includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor, and a turbine downstream from the combustor. An electric generator in the fluid flow path includes a rotor coaxially aligned with the turbine. A propulsor is upstream from the gas turbine engine, and an electric motor is operably coupled to the propulsor to rotate the propulsor. The propulsor is rotationally isolated from the gas turbine engine so that the propulsor rotates independently from operation of the gas turbine engine.