In the equation of a circle given by \((x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2\), the point \((h, k)\) represents the center of the circle.
For the circle you described, the center is at the point \((7, -2)\). Therefore, \(h\) corresponds to the x-coordinate of the center.
Thus, the value of \(h\) is:
\[ h = 7 \]