Edward Joseph Collins Jr.[2][3] (June 29, 1943 – January 29, 2007)[4] was an American government official for the state of Massachusetts, the town of Saugus and the city of Boston.

He is the namesake of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

[5] In 1996, Collins resigned as Saugus Town Manager to become the chief financial officer and treasurer of Boston.

In this position he oversaw a $1.8 billion budget and brought fiscal discipline during a time of financial pressure.

In July 2008, the new Center for Public Management was established at the University of Massachusetts Boston by Governor Deval Patrick and the state legislature and was named in his honor.