a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and a hybrid bearing coupled to the rotor system for supporting at least a portion of the rotor system the hybrid bearing including an active magnetic actuator positioned above the magnetic journal portion and extending partially around the magnetic journal portion wherein the magnetic actuator is operable to apply an upward force to the magnetic journal portion and a gas bearing positioned adjacent the magnetic journal portion and circumferentially adjacent the active magnetic actuator the gas bearing extending partially around the magnetic journal portion wherein the gas bearing is operable to support the portion of the rotor system in a refinement of the system the gas bearing is a hydrodynamic bearing the gas bearing may include a hydrodynamic foil disposed partially around the magnetic journal portion the gas bearing may be a compliant foil bearing the gas bearing may include a housing and a bump foil disposed between the hydrodynamic foil and the housing in other refinements the magnetic journal portion includes a lamination stack and the system further includes a ring disposed around the lamination stack and positioned at the same axial location as the fluid bearing in another refinement the active magnetic actuator includes an electromagnet and a controller communicatively coupled to the electromagnet wherein the controller is configured to execute program instructions to provide active damping of the rotor system using the electromagnet in yet another refinement the damping is active damping in a vertical plane in still another refinement the system further includes a gap sensor configured to sense a radial position of the rotor system in.